Chapter Eight: After the Storm

(present)

Dear Dad,

You didn't come. Why? I expected you. I don't know why since you never seem to show up.

I'm never going to send this owl because I can't. I'm scared. Why am I? I haven't seemed to respond to Katie's letters as quickly or happily anymore. Maybe because she's my mom and she and you both don't know I know.

Was your story a tragic one? Or was it a happy one? I guess it's still going on.

Love always,

Willow


I laid on the floor of the dormitories, wearing nothing but my underwear with clothes scattered around me.

"Help me," I groaned to all the girls. They all offered different choices.

"This navy dress is so cute," Emma said, holding up a sweet looking one - a little conservative but it was cute.

"But she doesn't want him thinking she's a prude," Roxanne pointed out. "This one's nice!" She held up a strapless black dress.

"It's kind of clubby," Taylor butted in with the other roommate, Kelsi Lee who nodded, holding a white off the shoulder dress that gave off the bohemian vibe, which suited her style, not mine.

"This one," Taylor, the one who knew me perfectly, picked up a light pink dress that looked absolutely cute. "is so perfect." She turned it over to reveal a rip near the thigh.

"No!" All of us complained.

It was going to be my third date with Grant, and my second week of being friends with James Sirius Potter. Crazy times, I reckon. And I was going insane. I never stressed like this for a stupid date, but I liked Grant - which also scared me.

"What's up, ladies?" James and Fred barged in, only to see all the girls surrounding the half naked me. Fred looked away and covered his eyes, out of respect for his kinda girlfriend(were they dating?) while James looked directly at me and smirked.

"Nice knickers, Wood," He laughed.

"Shut it," I folded my arms over my chest, but still remained on the floor. "I NEED HELP!"

"For what?" He questioned, before scanning all the dresses. "Oh. Of course. Date outfits."

"Right now," Taylor showed them the pink dress. "We thought it'd be nice but I forgot - "

"That she ripped it during summer," James finished. "I remember that party. You were wild."

"God, shut it!" I felt my cheeks turn bright red. "I need a nice outfit that makes Grant think, wow, she's banging!"

"I can't believe you said that," Taylor muttered.

"Shut IT!"

"Okay, okay!" Taylor shrugged. "How about this one?"

"No, too long."

"How about that one?" James pointed to a white, silk backless dress. "If a girl wore that on a date with me," His eyes seemed to drift off. "I'd think of angels and sex."

I looked at it. It was cute. It was a birthday gift from Katie to me. She said the memories in the dress were full of love and excitement.

"That is really cute," I said more to myself. "You know what, you're right, oh, Godric - I need to get ready!"

I got ready fairly fast, taking my time to carefully apply my eyeshadow and eyeliner just right - making sure every lash was curled to the maximum - my brows, however, were already thick, so I didn't need to do much to it.

"You look great," Taylor assured me. My hair hung in waves and my eyes were smoked. I pulled nervously at the short hem of the white dress while standing in the silver heels.

"Do I?" I bit my lip. "He told me this date would be special. I just - I'm a little nervous and I've never been nervous for a date before - I - "

"Calm down," Taylor smiled. "You're going to be fine. Now, come on, go to wherever he's taking you."

"Alright," I smiled steadily. "Okay." I walked down the steps of the Gryffindor Common Rooms and to the Ravenclaw Common Rooms where I saw James Sirius Potter waiting. Strange.

"Stalking me, now?" I teased. James turned around to see me.

"Willow?" His mouth was held slightly open. "Wow, you look...you look really beautiful," He held me at arms length. "And it's all due to my dress choice!"

"Shut up," I rolled my eyes. "So, do I look bangable?"

"Can't believe I'm using that word, but ye-yeah!" He nodded. "Willow, you look stunning, I'm serious!"

"Thanks," I smiled widely.

"I like your hair all straight better, though," James tugged on my hair gently. I looked at him square in the eye, realizing that from upclose, his face wasn't as handsome as it was beautifully rugged.

"Me too," I smiled. "Grant likes it like this, I think." James smile went away, but he didn't say anything.

"Well," I said. "What do you think of - "

"Willow?" I looked to see Grant, who looked like the normal athletic jock I normally saw him as. He smiled brightly. "Wow, you look hot."

"All thanks to me," James said proudly.

"Yeah, definitely, I owe everything to him," I took Grant's arm. "Let's go?"

"Yeah," He nodded his head.

"Talk to you later, James!" I called out while we walked away, not knowing that James was looking directly at my arse as I walked away with a goofy smile planted on his face.


"You are really beautiful Willow," Grant told me as we sat on the floor of the Astronomy Tower after Hogsmeade. "You look amazing."

"Thanks," I said happily. "Thanks. You don't look bad yourself."

"I know," He fluffed himself up. Grant was always a little full of himself, I remembered. And arrogant. But that was what I liked in fourth year, and I guess, now.

"So, tonight has been fun." Grant smiled messily. "Willow, I really fancy you. I'm falling in love with you." It was the third date. Granted, we had history, but it was too soon.

"I know it's the third date, but I know you and I know I really like you and - "

"That's - " I tried to choke out words but none came out. This wasn't how the night was supposed to go. This wasn't how anything was supposed to go. "I've got to go." I jumped up and bolted, Grant calling after me.

Why did I stress so much over this date? Because I fancied him. And he fancied me. What was the problem?

I was on my way back to my dorm, when I saw Davie Davies (unfortunate name). He was a heartthrob, only he barely had a brain and was a horrible person. But, in a sense, so was I. It made sense why we were shag partners.

I kissed him, and he immediately wrapped his arms around my waist as I entangled my hands in his hair. We were using each other for sex and I was fine with that - since that's how all of my relationships go.


"That was nice," He commented as we were both redressing in the broom closet. "This time again tomorrow?"

"Definitely not," I said, catching my breath before sliding on my dress. "That was fun, but I'm not looking for that."

"What?" Davie narrowed his eyes. "Come on, Willow. The entire school knows you're a good shag. You do this all the time for me."

I wanted to defend myself, but I couldn't find the words to say anything. It was better to not take offense than be mad. He was right. I wasn't good for anything but a shag.

"Well, maybe." I shrugged. "I'll let you know tomorrow."

"Sounds good," Davie gave me a smile. "Good catching up with you."

"Yeah, you too," I rolled my eyes. "I've got to go." It was after hours now, and I definitely was not supposed to be up. I crept out of the closet in the Hufflepuff Common Room which was pitch black.

"Lumos," I whispered, exiting the room, before promptly crashing into a dark figure. I opened my mouth to scream but a hand reached out to cover my mouth.

"OH MY GOD!" My muffled scream sounded more like muffled words due to a hand over my mouth.

"Shush," I heard James' voice say. Of course it was him. He was notorious for staying up completely past the curfews. "And what are you doing outside the Hufflepuff Common Room? I thought Grant was in the Ravenclaw house."

"Yeah, it..." I bit my lip. "It didn't work out." It was better to say that then I was a coward and ran out.

"I'm sorry," I didn't even have to see James to know that he was smirking. "But Grant is a bit of an airy prat, isn't he?"

"Yeah," I agreed. "He is. Do you know the direction to the common room because I currently can't see and it's confusing me how you can." James laughed and tossed an piece of fabric over us.

"This is how you see?" I asked him. "Lumos," He said, and we were surrounded by light in the fabric thing.

"James, what is this - "

"Invisibility cloak," He responded off handedly. "You got to squeeze in so you can't see anything." He placed one of his hands on my waist while the other gripped his wand. "The room's this way."

He steered me by the waist, pointing the direction. "So, what happened with Grant?" I rolled my eyes. James and the rest of his giant family were all nosy gits.

"Nothing," I said.

"Something happened, Wood, don't lie to me."

"He told me he loved me."

"And that's bad?"

"It was the third date, James!" I exclaimed.

"Don't you two have history? And shouldn't you be happy he likes you?"

"Not enough for him to say that," I muttered.

"Well," James' breath hot on my neck, he murmured back. "Why were you at the Hufflepuff Common Room?"

"So many questions, Potter," I responded back. "Why so curious?"

"Davies, you shagged Davies."

"What?" I turned around to face him. I immediately regretted that, realizing how close we really were to both fit under the cloak. Our lips were about an inch from brushing. "How - "

"I know Davies' disgusting scent," He replied simply. "And you have sex hair."

"I do not!" I immediately placed a hand on my hair to smooth it out.

"Willow, you shagged Davies?" His eyebrow were shot up.

"Yeah," I shrugged. "I did."

"Why?" I turned back around.

"Just because. It isn't the first time." We were silent for a while until he announced that we arrived at the Fat Lady portrait.

"I thought you two hated each other," The Fat Lady said dubiously.

"Long story," James waved her off. "Jumping Jiggles."

The common room was dark and silent. Everyone appeared to be in bed. I stood at the foot of the staircase, not knowing what I was feeling right now - just confused.

"Have a good night," James told me, and before he headed up back to the room, he gave me a short smile. "You do whatever you want, Willow. I don't control you, but I think you deserve better."

I was even more confused.