CHAPTER 7
A FEW NOTES:
HELLO TO ANYONE READING THIS! I recently got a lovely review from Dave'n'Gee4Eva who inspired me enough to continue this fic. Even though 15-year-old me was a dreadful writer, I've gone back and edited bits and pieces so it's a more readable...
ALSO, I was stupid and got the dates of it two months off, so to avoid confusion (rather than going back and editing every single time there was a date) I'm going to skip forward two months... But keep in mind that it's actually only a couple of days after.
Monday, December 1st 6.30 am
I woke up with a start this morning... I suppose this is because I have grown so accustomed to having Dave burst into my room with another bloody trick up his sleeve (or in that one case his trousers... oo-er) but no, I just fell out of my bed and looked up with my blanket in a tangle to find nothing there. Buggering bugger buggerer pants.
10 seconds later
I feel a bit, well, terrible. It's been almost two weeks now and he just won't talk to me. Hermione has been looking over me a while, concerned. She does not realise that I am on the rack of luuurve and therefore cannot be saved.
2 seconds later
Ever.
1 minute later
TWATTING PANTS BUGGER I DID NOT AT ALL MEAN IT LIKE THAT, WHY I SAID RACK OF LUUURVE IS COMPLETELY BEYOND ME AS IT IS DAVE THE LAUGH, WHOM I MOST CERTAINLY DO NOT LOVE. AT ALL. Ahem.
30 seconds later
Hermione stood over me for awhile looking slightly bewildered. Then, she slowly said...
"Um, Georgia, you do realise we have the Yule Ball dancing classes today?"
15 seconds later
I actually, physically and most literally jumped up a metre in the air.
30 minutes later, lying in a bed in the Hospital Wing
Oh Georgia, when will you learn that jumping with fright without thinking usually causes you to do somethingvraimentintelligent such as hitting your head on a doorpost?
Hermione said, "Georgia, you really do astound me sometimes."
2 minutes later
Why is Hermione here with me, and where is my so called "bestest pally" Jas?
30 seconds later
I asked Hermione this, she just looked at me a bit awkwardly and said, "Well, maybe it's because, er, I'm possibly your new bestest pal as you so call it?"
She has a point.
2 minutes later
She's a lot nicer, actually. Gives good advice, too...
1 hour later
After breakfast, Hermione came back up to the hospital wing with Ron (oo-er!) to visit me. She said, "Georgia, Owlie brought you a letter this morning! I think it might be from your Mutti, as you call her." and continued on about questioning my "fascinating german heritage" before she finally gave it to me;
Dearest Gee-Gee,
How are you, my darling? I hope everything is going well! We are all missing you terribly, and we can't wait to see you in two weeks! I must say, Owlie is such a darling, he always seems to pop up when I feel like writing you a letter! I gather from your last letter that you still need to put a bit more of a focus on your studies, but that is okay – I actually received a letter from Professor Dumbledore last week who said he believes you were settling in very well with a few old friends by your side. Anyway, I have enclosed 50 squid for you to buy a dress for your Ball! You'd better take lots of photos, Georgie!
Much love,
Mutti x
5 minutes later
50 quid, phwoar!
10 am
One hour later, bloody Hermione managed to convince Madam Pomfrey that I was not afflicted with anything life threatening and was perfectly able to accompany her to the dancing classes.
2 minutes later
EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NO MAKE UP ON TO SPEAK OF.
Why doesn't she understand that I would rather die than go without mascara?
1 minute later
Actually, I'm not so sure about that. I would rather have dragon pox, though...
5 minutes later
Er, no, I probably wouldn't. After all, I have seen a few pictures in the Herbology textbook and they were, to be frank, tres revolting and grotesque.
10.20am, Great Hall
Wow, this is a tad awkward. Boykind and us girlie folk have been separated on different sides of the room. Professor McGonagall is rambling on about how the Yule Ball "has been part of Hogwarts history since the beginning of the Triwizard tournament, symbolising the unity between different wizarding academies..."
2 minutes later
Dave looks really gorgey today. His hair's all ruffled and nice looking...
30 seconds later
PANTS, he just caught me looking at him! Do something to make it obvious you weren't looking at him, Georgia!
2 seconds later
I may come to regret this. Oh well.
I put on a big cheesy grin and whispered (well, yelled)
"HEY... ER..."
Who's around him that I know?
10 seconds later
"Neville..."
He looked up at me like a looking-looker thing, actually, he looked up and me like I was some sort of serial killer bloke, except, you know, not a bloke, and, well, the moral of the story is, he just fell off his chair. I could've picked anyone to embarrass, but no.
30 seconds later
Why isn't McGonagall talking anymore?
2 seconds later
Everyone is looking at me. Why is everyone looking at me?
5 minutes later, being escorted out of the hall by Professor Sprout
"Georgia Nicolson, why is it that whenever there is any hint of trouble in class it always seems to be because of you?"
To be fair, Neville and Dave got pulled out for causing a disruption as well.
10 seconds later
I'm getting a tad sick of this process. Sprouty Sprout turned around and, wait for it:
"Actually, I have a fantastic idea. Instead of sorting through the library archives, you three will be helping me track all of Hagrid's blast ended skrewts which have escaped into the outskirts of the Dark Forest. Tonight."
2 seconds later
Neville yelped, and Dave turned and glared at me.
10 seconds later
And it wasn't in a nice way, either, mind you...
20 seconds later
It was in an "I am going to kill you. Except that I don't care enough about you to bother with killing you, so I will just sit here looking attractive instead." way, too.
15 minutes later
Well, maybe not. I think it was more of a "I hate you Georgia Nicolson and want to break your face," kind of looky look. But, I am not going to read too far into this because as Hermione says, "There are more important things in life, like studying for exams."
30 seconds later
My ability to use irony is truly hilarious.
2 minutes later
Hardy har har! This little study session I have going on here really isn't working out. I think I will preoccupy myself with something else.
30 seconds later
Like separating my eyelashes with a needle in order to make them more standy-outty and just generally sophisticated.
5 minutes later
Ouch! Buggering tit arse buggery bugger! After almost removing an eye, I think I will perhaps stick to mascara when trying to fill my eyes with an air of maturiosity and general sexiness.
5 pm, Dinner
Hermione was telling me about what I missed out on in the dancing lesson (including a moment of much hilariousness when McGonagall chose Ron to be her dance partner, making him touch her waist and everything - oo-er!) when Harry came storming into the hall, and plonked down next to Ron in a strop.
He said, "Ron, Hermione, common room now."
10 seconds later
Oh yes, that's fine, just leave me to sit with Dave and Neville. Because I don't mind, and am the kind of person who just loves being put into situations full of awkwardnosity.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME.
1 minute later
In an attempt to cut the tension with scissors, or something, I said, "Er, so, Neville... have you, um, grown any interesting plants lately?"
Neville chirped, "Oh, well Georgia, it's interesting you should ask that, because I actually got sent a most fascinating plant in the mail from my great uncle, Algie... I've got it right here, actually."
30 seconds later
After fumbling for what seemed like 5 years with his bag strap, Neville unveiled a pot plant which quite resembled a pile of lurkers... Except more revolting.
He continued, "This is a Mimbulus Mimbletonia! They're really rare, you know."
After he got no reaction except blank stares from Dave and myself, he went on,
"In fact, they can do a really interesting little trick! I've read about them before in 'One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi', and apparently the result of activating their defence mechanism is a calming of the nerves! Just fascinating!"
1 minute later
Neville fiddled with the plant for awhile, then set it down on the table and got a pin out of his bag. "Now, if I poke the Mimbulus like this..."
30 seconds later
Neville poked his sodding lurker plant. And it exploded. All over my robes, and newly washed hair.
5 minutes later
While wiping off the most revolting liquid I have ever come into contact with - and yes, that does include the vomit of my darling Angus- Neville said, "Don't worry, the stinksap is perfectly harmless! It just serves as a natural-"
"Neville." Dave said, for the first time in awhile, "Shut your pants before I cover you with more stinksap."
Erlack!
1 hour later
After 3 showers, I seem to have finally ridden myself of the beautiful smelling stinksap, which can only be compared to that of rancid poo.
7.50pm
Pants! I was meant to be down by the staffroom five minutes ago!
10 minutes later
Run run, pant pant, after taking the wrong route down 3 moving staircases, I am finally around the corner from the staffroom! SUCCESS!
30 seconds later
I was quite literally stopped in my tracks by almost crashing into Professor Moody, who was turning the corner at the same time I was;
"MISS NICOLSON, WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING OUT OF BED?", He yelled like a yelling yeller thing, as he took a swig from whatever in the world was in his flask.
10 seconds later
A swig. From his flask. Ha, ha, ha!
15 seconds later
Oh, right, he is still staring at you, Georgia.
"I, er, was on my way to a detention with Professor Sprout, Mr Mad E- erm, I mean, Professor M-Moody!"
10 seconds later
Yes, the words got out eventually. But it was a hard moment back there, I didn't think I would survive...
Mad Face hobbled away, but after about 20 seconds he shouted, "NICOLSON! ON YOUR WAY!" without even looking at me!
20 seconds later
Pants! How did he do that? Oh, right, he has a Mad Eye. Or something.
1 minute later
I screeched to a halt in front of Professor Sprout and the boys (oo-er), panting, "PROFESSOR... I'M... HERE..."
Sighing at me vis a vis the air of defeat, she led us down towards the grounds.
2 minutes later
Pants! It's bloody freezing out here!
As if reading my mind, which to be honest would certainly not surprise me, Professor Sprout said, "Perhaps, Miss Nicolson, a mini-skirt was not the most appropriate form of attire for this occasion."
30 seconds later
Yes, well, at least I'm not wearing a sodding pointed hat. I will tackle the beast ended boots with muchos stylos fabulositos! That is, of course, italian for "in a gorgeous and sophisticositic manner."
5 minutes later
This is actually ridiculous; my botty is about to freeze itself off. Oh well, nearly there. I said to Dave in an effort to break the tensions, "So, planning on asking Lav-Lav to the Yule Ball? I don't know why I haven't gotten an invitation to your wedding, yet! Will you be hiring the singing voles?"
30 seconds later
Phwoar! I have never received a look so angry as the one Dave just gave me! Fine, if he won't make polite conversation with me, I will just give him the silent treatment.
5 minutes later
We are now pretty far into the forest! If I didn't have more sense, I would find the whole experience a little bit freaky-deaky.
2 minutes later
Well, actually, I just heard a noise similar to that of a dying Angus, so it is sufficient to say that I am indeed quite scared, now.
5 minutes later
I found a skrewt! He was kind of cute, apart from the fact that I could've been looking at his bum, not his face. Whatever. It is all the same.
30 seconds later
Sort of.
10 seconds later
Not really, actually.
10 minutes later
After throwing the third skrewt into Sprouty's little enclosure, I noticed Dave was glaring at me. Again.
30 seconds later
An owl came flying towards us, and dropped a note at Sprouty's feet.
10 seconds later
She looked up at us, and said, "I just have to go and fetch the skrewt feed from over at Hagrid's hut," turned to Neville and went on, "Mr. Longbottom, I trust you will watch over these two. Make sure they don't kill each other, will you?"
For pant's sake. That was completely unfair of the highest water.
2 minutes later
Dave is still being all stroppy and acting as if I don't exist. This is ridiculous, as clearly I do and am smiling at him, trying to be all diplomatic and the like!
30 seconds later
Why is he allowed to be in a strop? He's the one that lost his temper at me for no reason.
1 minute later
Fine, if that is how he is going to play it, then I will play that game with him. Oo-er.
10 seconds later
Seriously, though.
30 seconds later
I paced towards Dave, "So, Davey Dearest, are you going to tell me what all of those deathly stares were for? Have you perhaps got the painters in?"
Turning around abruptly, he almost (well, actually) shouted, "What? Are you really serious, Georgia? You are asking me why I am angry with you?"
Neville tried to butt in, "Er, Dave, G-Georgia, p-perhaps you shouldn't-" but, Dave went on,
"Have you ever tried actually taking a long hard look at yourself? Oh, of course not! Because you are too busy parading around acting as life is one huge game and the feelings of everyone else don't matter!"
That was just too far! I said, "Dave! Don't you talk to me like tha-"
"No, Georgia, I will talk to you however I want to because I'm not finished! I know, I know, it must be hard enough for you to understand that other people have feelings. It must also be hard for you to see that I really couldn't care less about you anymore! Forgive me for moving on, but I'd rather be spending time on someone who will actually treat me like a human being!"
10 seconds later
I can say for the first time in my entire life, I couldn't think of anything to say. He kept going,
"Yes, Georgia! I really liked you, I really did. Everyone kept telling me, 'forget about her, she doesn't take anything seriously, there's no point!' but for some reason, I just couldn't stop myself. But now I am, so congratulations. Ever wondered why Jas stopped hanging out with you so much, Georgie? Ever thought about that? In fact, have you ever thought about anyone but yourself at all? Anyway, you have lost the last person that put up with all of your rubbish. I hope you're happy."
And he stormed off into the night. Just like that.
30 seconds later
Although the dramatic effect was downplayed a bit when he tripped over the tree root. Still, though.
4 minutes later
Neville said, "If it's any consolation, I think he does like you."
"Shut up, Neville."
