I love you guys, seriously truly love you! The reviews and PM's you've been sending melt my heart. I'm glad you all liked the last chapter. I'm excited for you to read this chapter. It's basically…the beginning! Ooooo...
Disclaimer: I do not own any HP stuff. Though I wish I did.
Special little dedication to: EmS91796, A-LovesHP, Stromsten and ClariceStark. Your kind words and consistent reviews have inspired me more then you know.
Chapter 6
Hem-Hem, Detention!
I did my best to avoid all Slytherin's for the next few weeks, making sure that whenever we weren't stuck together in class that I worked my arse off avoiding them in the corridors. At first it was incredibly difficult, somehow it seemed like every short cut I took Warrington always managed to be at the other end. When I was finally capable of fleshing that problem out things started to get much easier. At least now I didn't have to keep the hood of my cloak up anymore, and on days where I wasn't alone I always had George escorting me to class. Of course he merely believed he was doing his duty as my newly acquired boyfriend, but I was also considering the fact that he made a pretty decent bodyguard.
I didn't dare tell him about the incident in the locker room a few weeks back; I didn't want to be an accessory to the murder of Cassius Warrington nor did I fancy George heading to Azkaban for the rest of his life. Katie promised to keep quiet about it, although every time Angelina got the whiff that we were keeping something from her she seemed to follow Katie around like an over eager puppy.
But I digress, these are just menial things compared to everything else that's been going on in my life. Honestly, I can't remember a time I've been in school where I simply cannot wait to go home for Holiday, and Christmas is a good two months away! And no, this time it has nothing to do with Warrington or the weird feelings I've been receiving ever since that day out on the pitch. This is all because of the giant Toad that has taken over the Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
"She can't be serious?" Angelina leans into me one afternoon where we are supposed to be reading three chapters on How to Properly Hold Your Wand. "We learned this crap six years ago!"
"I know," I hiss in her direction, my eyes still focused on my book to keep out of trouble, "but she's already on our tails about being in Gryffindor so we might as well keep quiet for now."
"Christ she's worse than Snape." Angelina mutters, and I snort back a laugh.
"Shhh," I laugh, "You are going to get us into-"
"Hem- hem, Ms. Spinnet," Umbridge's tone cut through me and I felt myself shrink in my seat.
"Yes, Professor?" By now all eyes in our class have turned to face me, including the eyes of the Slytherin's I have worked so hard in avoiding.
"Is there something you'd like to share with the rest of the class?" Her violent putrid pink sweater made my eyes burn.
"No ma'am. I was just asking Angelina what page we needed to stop reading on." My eyes shot to the left and then back into her face. I am truly the worst liar on the face of the planet.
Umbridge folds her hands together and places them right beneath her breast, "Is that so?" Her eyes move between Angelina, and me "And that requires girlish inappropriate giggling?"
I can feel the blush creep up into my cheeks, and out of habit I look over at Warrington who seems to be getting a real rise out of this display. The smirk on his face is nearly stretching from ear to ear. Jerk.
"No, I just- well she-" I was sinking fast. I was a goner.
"And I just couldn't believe she had forgotten what page we were supposed to read to. I mean, really," Angelina knocks the side of her head with the palm of her hand, "Silly Alicia…"
"Yeah, silly me…" I add with an uncomfortable laugh, but my face goes stoic as Umbridge shoots me a look to kill. "Sorry Professor."
"As you should be." She wiggles her finger in my face, "Twenty points from Gryffindor for sheer absentmindedness. " As she turns to walk back up the aisle my fingers curl into a fist, and Angelina is yanking me back into my seat.
Ok, possible over exaggeration. I definitely wasn't going to tackle Umbridge for calling me absentminded. Over the last month we've all learned that her accusations and jabs were merely naïve and ignorant. Still, being called absentminded in front of the Slytherin's broke a little bit of my pride and I felt the sudden urge to let her know that I wasn't some rat that she could just kick around.
A fluttering piece of parchment lands on my desk and I open it up quickly before Umbridge turns back around.
Don't let her get to you. She's a toad anyway.
Want to meet tonight in the Astronomy tower for "extra curricular" activities? I've been meaning to get you to myself for the last week, and since Angelina's finally given us the night off…what do you say?
-George
I peer over to where he is sitting and smile.
Quickly I tear a piece of parchment from the corner of my scroll and scratch out a response.
Well any closer and she may have given me warts.
I'll definitely meet you later. I've been meaning to give my lips a proper work out. With all these damn stressful Quidditch practices I could use some alone time to relieve the stress.
- Alicia
I fold it up quickly and send it in his direction just as Umbridge reaches the front of the classroom. It all happens in slow motion as she begins to turn around, George reaches out, and as her eyes move from me across the room towards George, he's closing his hand around the note and tucking it into his chest. He's pretending to cough just as her eyes settle on him.
My heart is in my throat, but she doesn't say anything. Umbridge merely sits down in her high back pink chair and survey's the group of us once more before returning her eyes to whatever nonsense was in front of her. I am still tense as I sit there for another three silent minutes, my gaze flickering between the Professor from hell and my boyfriend. He looks a bit pale as well, but finally after a good five minutes he removes his hand from his chest and unfolds the small note I have sent him.
"Hem-hem," Oh you can't be serious! "Mr. Weasley, I'm certain that I've only told you to read the those three chapters. I do not recall any mention of writing." She's moving towards his desk, and I can see George looking for some place to hide the bit of parchment.
"I'm not writing anything." He snorts, "We haven't learned anything in here to write about!"
There was a collective gasp from everyone else in the room, including myself.
"Is that so?" She purses her lips together, making that typical toad face, and then flicks her wand in his direction before George even has a chance to block it.
Foul! Foul! Unfair advantage!
The piece of parchment, my parchment, is now sitting in Umbridge's grimy little fingers and I shrink down in my seat again. Maybe if I get low enough she'll think I ditched out of class before she's seen any-
"Ms. Spinnet?" Again, I can feel every eye on me and I'm suddenly wishing that I had left my hair down today instead of pulling it back in a ponytail. At least with it down I could cower behind my unruly curly hair and look less like a tomato colored idiot.
"Yes ma'am?" Maybe she'd have pity on my soul and merely ask me to stay after class to speak to her. Surely she had to be a young pubescent girl at some point and would understand the privacy of boyfriend-girlfriend interactions.
"Ms. Spinnet, tut tut tut," she made the noise with her tongue which automatically made the entire class cringe, "Perhaps you'd do us all the honors of reading this insightful bit of work you've passed on to Mr. Weasley."
Well that's it; Life's over. Someone take out his or her wands and avada kedavra me. I mean really? Is the woman that heinous that she wants me to get up in front of the class and read that note?
Maybe I'm dreaming.
I press my eyes shut and count to ten. I open them back up and the entire class is still staring at me. Rats! Apparating off the grounds of Hogwarts would totally come in handy right about now.
I rise from my seat beside Angelina (her two fingers are pressed over her heart which is our secret way of telling each other to stand strong). Oh yeah Angelina, stand strong. I'm about to read about my bloody love life to the entire Gryffindor-Slytherin 7th year class! You'd think she'd have a bit more to say then just stand strong.
As I reach the front of the room I casually glance to the right and catch Warrington's eye. I'm expecting him to look gleeful at what's about to go down, but his face is emotionless and he merely looks away from me and then back down to his work. Merlin, if Warrington's even pitying me now then I know this is about to be one of the worst moments of my adolescent life.
"Professor, if I could just be given a detention-"
"Oh, you'll be given a detention, Ms. Spinnet, but after you share your astute writing with the rest of the class."
I lower my eyes as I take the parchment from her, and turn to face the rest of the classroom.
And then I read.
As the words left my mouth I could feel my cheeks burn and the back of my neck begin to sweat. I had barely made it to the last line as the first round of giggles set in from the Slytherin side of the room. Once I reached the end of the note, and silence filled the room for a good ten seconds, a loud guffaw from Montague broke the silence and the class erupted into a sea of laughter.
I shot George a look that I hoped came off as an apology, but his face was in his hands as he tried to hide his own embarrassment.
It was almost a blessing when the chime for next class rang through the castle, and everyone began packing their things up to head to free time. I turned back to the She-Wolf and held my hands up at my sides. "So when's detention then."
She might as well just lay it all out now while I'm kicked and stomped on.
Her smile is that of pure evil as she looks at me, a perverse notion that she actually enjoyed seeing me suffer in front of my friends.
"Well I hope this first and foremost teaches you a lesson, Ms. Spinnet. In my class I will not tolerate laziness or nonsense. " She's sitting back behind her stupid pink colored desk again and I resist the urge to gag.
"I understand, Professor. I truly am ashamed of my actions." Merlin, I hate sucking up, but it had to help me out some where in this mess. "I promise that I'll start buckling down more and focusing on becoming a rule abiding student."
"That's lovely, Ms. Spinnet. I do see a lot of potential in you if you keep your head out of the clouds…" I can't help but notice that she glances in George's directions at this statement.
"So my detention then? Could I perhaps get a warning and prove to you how I am serious about my studies?" Please? Maybe? Gods, cut me a break you foul evil snot nosed flobberworm!
"Unfortunately no, Ms. Spinnet. Student's who break rules must all be punished accordingly."
Oh Whoopie.
"And yet, unfortunately tonight I myself am required to meet with the Minister of Magic for a very serious conference regarding the school. I will not be capable of holding your detention tonight. I have asked Professor McGonagall…"
Yes! If McGonagall was running detention there was no way I'd be doing anything half bad. She's always been too obsessed with Quidditch to ever put the team members through something horrible.
"…. But she seems to be quite busy as well. Professor Snape will be running your detention this evening. Arrive at his office no later then 6:30…" she grins, "and don't bother to bring your wand. It will not be necessary."
I turn on my heel and walk back to my desk. I can see Angelina has already packed up my things, but she didn't bother to wait for me. I figured she was probably outside the classroom waiting to hear what horror I'd have to deal with. I didn't blame her for cutting out. Being in a room with Senorita Toad-face for longer than class time was just lunacy.
I did however note that Warrington had taken his sweet time packing up his belongings across the room from me. His eyes were focused on his parchment as he careful folded it and placed it into his leather satchel. I watch him fling it over his shoulder and then lower my eyes as he makes his way down the aisle towards me.
I can feel him slow his stride as he reaches my desk, and I hold my breath as he chuckles, "Your saucy little notes are about as sexy as Umbridge's hairy upper lip."
My eyes shoot up and meet his, but he's already striding passed me and heading out the door before I could even mumble a retort.
"Stupid prat." I mutter.
"Did you say something Ms. Spinnet?" Umbridge is looking up at me from the paper work on her desk and I quickly shove my bag over my shoulder and shake my head.
"Just have a good day, Professor." I flash a phony smile, one that I'm sure she picked up on, and jet out of the room before I do anything more to incriminate myself.
"So what she say?"
I yelp as Angelina jumps out from behind the suit of armor next to the classroom doorway.
I clutch my chest, "Can't you announce your arrival or something?" I take a breath and then look around for George. "Where's George?"
We begin walking down the corridor and Angelina shrugs, "Said he had to go work on something with Fred, but he'd see you at dinner."
Well that's wonderful. I take the fall for my boyfriends instigating notes and he runs off to play Chemistry Set with his brother. My face scrunches up just the slightest and Angelina links her arm with mine.
"I'm sure it's for a good reason, Alicia. Don't sweat it." She smiles, "Now tell me, what did Umbridge do?"
With my free hand I pinch the bridge of my nose and sigh, "I have detention tonight with Snape." Just saying his name gives me the jitters, "Who knows what I'll have to do, but I can't imagine it will be something delightful."
"Well how about we go up to the dorms and find Katie before dinner. At least we can cheer you up before your date with that greasy haired git."
"Oh Gods its not a date! Don't ever use my name and Snape's in the same thought category!" I say, disgusted by the thought.
"Oh lighten up!" And she drags me towards the Gryffindor tower while telling me all about the Keeper tryouts she plans to have the following weekend.
I feel like only ten minutes has passed in my dorm room with Katie and Angelina, but its almost quarter to six when hurry down to dinner and take our seats at the Gryffindor table. George is already there with Lee and Fred, and I squeeze in between the twins so I can at least share some part of my day with my so called boyfriend.
I give him a quick kiss on the cheek as he continues chewing a piece of bread, and then scoop as much food on my plate as possible before diving in.
"Is there something you want to tell us, Leesh?" Fred asks, that mischievous gleam in his eye.
I have my spoon hanging from my mouth as I look at him wide eyed, "Wha?"
"Well I'm just saying that you never help yourself to that much." He muses, "Can I assume you are eating for two?" He reaches around me and slaps George on the back. Even George practically chokes on his bread at this comment.
"I'm not pregnant you twat." I snap, and continue to spoon heaping loads of Yorkshire pudding into my mouth. "I have detention in half an hour and I want to make sure I'm not dealing with Snape on an empty stomach."
"You have detention with Snape? George asks, his hand coming to rest on the small of my back.
Something about his nonchalant comment bothers me and I snap back again, "Yeah, well you would have known that earlier if you had waited for me after class."
I see his face fall and I feel crushed again. I didn't mean to be rude, honest, I didn't. Between what happened in class and serving detention soon enough I just felt overwhelmed with everything going on.
"I'm sorry," I mumble and then nudge him with my side, "We'll have to set up our plans for another free evening." I smirk.
"Oh gross." Fred spits his potatoes back onto his plate, "Look I don't care if you two are dating but I don't want to hear about the sloppy wet details, ok?"
Satisfied with the little uproar I had caused I finished my dinner as quickly as possible. Angelina was still going on about Keeper Tryouts, and Katie mentioned something about all of us trying out again just to be fair.
"Absolutely not! We've earned our spots." Angelina snorted, "I want a winning team…not a bunch of amateur schleps that think they can play with us. We're a bloody good unit!"
"I smell the return of Captain Blood," Fred chimes in just as I finish my last bit of pumpkin pie.
"Yeah, well," I rise from my spot at the table and give George a quick kiss on the cheek, "At least Wood was good to look at."
I dodge the roll Angelina hurls at me, and laugh as it hits Cho Chang in the back of the head.
Hurrying from the Great Hall I make my way down the first staircase towards Snape's dank dungeon office. I had seen him leave the Great Hall earlier so I assumed he'd be waiting for me down there. Although, being in this area in the evening always tends to give me the creeps.
I reach his door and knock once on the solid wood. The door swings open and Snape glowers down at me with that hooked nose of his. Honestly I don't know how Katie ever had a crush on the man two years ago.
"Here for detention, Spinnet?" He drawls, and then pushes the door open further so I can enter.
"Yes sir." I mumble, and enter the empty office with a sigh. Oh how wonderful fun this will be.
"You are ten minutes early." He drones on, "I need to go receive the box of files you will be working on this evening. Madam Pince seems to have chronicles of work that must be alphabetized. Wait here…" He stepped from the doorframe but turned to look at me again, "Sit …"
I think I dropped into that seat faster than I had ever moved in my life.
He added, "…and don't touch anything."
The door slammed behind him and I eased back into the seat I had fallen into. Seriously, could the guy get any creepier? I pulled my bag into my lap and began surveying my surroundings. Oh if I had to guess whose office this was I would most definitely say Snape. It reeked of weird potion materials and had that dark dastardly look to it. Actually, it was downright scary.
My eyes had fixated on an odd painting of a man being beheaded, when the door slammed open and I jumped about twelve feet in the air.
"I haven't moved Professor!" I yell, and jump from the leather chair. "I've just been waiting for you."
" So first it's the Weasel and now its Snape? Geez, Spin-wad you really are the Slag of Gryffindor."
Cassius Warrington folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the doorframe.
I have the next 3 chapters mapped out and I'm SO EXCITED. For all of you dying for that little bit of angst and dramatic Warrington/Spinnet fluff…you will be rewarded. Anyway, PLEASE leave me some reviews and feedback, Always looking for some fabulous ideas. Send a review; send a writer some love :)
