I'm back, yeah. Sorry it's been so long, this was actually written months ago and stored on my computer, then I had to move suddenly and the computer went into storage, only after I sat down suddenly wanting to update did I realize I hadn't made a copy. My apologies folks but I hate rewriting stuff. So I hope you enjoy.
Special thanks to my beta Alinora. Only she has to witness the horrors that are my drafts, for that you should be appreciative.
sugar-skyline it wasn't soon but here you go. Hnh thanks. Don't worry there is a plot. . .somewhere. I took out the catholic reference, it was inappropriately worded I think, thanks for the check. It's was kind of a joke between me and my friend who is catholic. Tara 6, awww thanks, this story is so much fun to write I hope I continue to earn your praise. Siond, you know I love you.
And here we go
If you can't remember what's happened in the story, I reread and reedited the last few chapters so I invite you to go back and get caught up.
Here you go, the long awaited 10th chapter
Hotter Than Most
Part 10
Is this a trick question?
"I think I broke my jaw," I whined quietly as we walked into the forest.
"I told you not to eat anything," Charlie laughed.
I, of course, remembered this too late, just as I tried to open my mouth to chew and found that I couldn't. Halfway through the conversation, Charlie noticed I was being a bit quiet and had an extreme look of concentration on my face. . . or so I'm guessing. I was probably more panicked and twitchy looking really. It kind of reminded me of the time in grade school when I glued my mouth shut with a jolly rancher between my teeth and when I finally pulled it loose, I was short a tooth. Luckily the treacle fudge unstuck, tooth free, and I spit it out demurely into a napkin and hid it under the edge of my plate. I could see Charlie shaking with laughter so I nudged him in the side and whispered for him to hush.
"You know this is called the 'Forbidden' Forest by all the students," Charlie said in a spooky tone.
"Is that because it's 'Forbidden?" I kind of mocked back.
"Well yeah, school rules and such. But it's also home to all sorts of magical creatures. When one of the Ministry Wizards from the Control of Magical Creatures department gets really brave they try to come out and catalogue them. The last two never came back."
"That's only some spook story you trying to scare me with," I said, primly turning my nose up. "Next thing you're going to say is that their ghosts still haunt these woods," I accused.
"Actually," interrupted Hagrid, "One of them still does. Comes round every month or so and dictates his reports to me. I send them off to the ministry for 'em."
Suddenly my lunch was starting to feel a little heavier in my stomach.
"We're almost there. But anyways, best not be wanderin' Julia. There are some dangerous things living in these woods and being a muggle and all I'm not sure if you'll be able to see them."
Yeah, well that calmed my fears right down. You know that feeling you get where it's like creepy crawlies running up your back and you have to shiver. I got that in spades!
Suddenly the woods started to dip and below us lay a peaceful clearing.
"Hagrid, it's wonderful mate," Charlie congratulated the man, giving him a thud on the back. "Perfect for the dragons."
"What? Dragons?" I said tearing my eyes away from the forest that I was searching for, random leaping out at you when you're not looking, creatures.
"Yeah," Charlie answered while gazing up at the tree canopy. "Dumbledore is sponsoring a tri-school competition, to promote international relations and all that. It's an old tradition, but this is the first time in like a hundred years that one's been held. Hey Hagrid, do you think we should charm a bigger opening?"
"Couldn't hurt. Wouldn't want the harnesses catching on the trees."
"What does this have to do with dragons?" I asked.
"Well, that's the first event," he explained. "I wasn't told what the test was, just that the ministry needed clutching females. I expect the kids have to snatch something out of the nest."
"Kids!" I shouted, instantly drawing his attention. "They're making kids go against dragons!"
"Now Jules," he pleaded.
"Don't you now Jules me!" I snapped back. "You know what it feels like to be burned by one of them. How could you put a kid in that kind of situation?" I snapped at him.
"They'll be perfectly safe," he insisted, weathering my temper like a pro. "There will be at least a hundred dragon handlers standing by." While this did ease my fears a little, I still couldn't bear the idea. When I closed my eyes I could still see that monster bearing down on me, feel the fire hitting my back. Suddenly his hands were on my shoulders and I found myself looking up into his cool green eyes. "It will be alright," he assured me.
"If you say so," I resigned. "But you had better keep a sharp eye on those kids," I warned him.
"Of course love," he said with a smile. He kissed me quickly before I could protest anymore and gave me a quick wink before turning back to Hagrid. I sighed and turned towards the woods. It didn't really seem that foreboding. I mean, not until the winds shifted and it looked like the whole place came alive. Alright! Now I was just scaring myself. 'Deep breaths Julia.' I took a few steps away from the meeting and look around more and I was actually starting to feel better when I really did see something. It was a bit in the distance, but it was a black horse and it had wings! Poor animal, even from this distance I could see it was thin as a rake. Its shinny skin clung to its bones. The horse had been moving slightly away, but suddenly it stopped and turned towards me. I gasped and tripped backwards falling in a heap.
My less than graceful decent had caught the men's attention and Charlie rushed over to hoist me up. "Jules are you alright? Did you see something?" I had still been starring dumbly out into the woods but his words jarred me back to the world.
"It was a horse, I think," I corrected, knowing the description wasn't accurate. It was like God had started sculpting and decided, 'eh good enough.' "But it had the creepiest large white eyes," I said shivering. Charlie wrapped his arms around me from behind as we both looked out into the forest.
"Can't take you anywhere you know?" he teased, "You always drag out some monster or another." I elbowed him lightly in the side, eliciting a grunt.
"Only when I'm around you," I corrected him, bringing a smile to my face. The cold feeling seemed to ease away and I looked up at him and he kissed my temple lightly and yeah, I sighed. A girl could definitely get use to him.
"So, what do you think Hagrid?" Charlie asked and I look over to see the really big man squinting into the trees. "I can't see it." I didn't take it personally; I know he believed I saw it.
"Just the Thestrals," Hagrid concluded gesturing into the distance, "The herd's back there a little ways. Don't worry Miss Julia," he assured me good-naturedly. "Thestrals don't really hurt anyone unless they get really annoyed. Besides this group is tame."
I heard Charlie snort at that, but I wasn't really sure why. But odd thing is, he suddenly grew really still, I turned to look at him. "It's nothing," he said quickly before I could ask, "was just remembering something." He gave me a fast smile to answer my questioning glance. In past experience and in all of the TV shows I've watched, nothing is ever nothing. Nothing is 'I don't want to admit to being scared or worried' or 'I don't want you to be scared or worried'.
"Okay, keep your secret," I said pulling out of his arms, but offering my hand to show there was no offense. "Do you need more time? I'm sure I could find some more trouble to be had." Charlie smiled back for real this time.
"No, I think we're finished for now. Hagrid, I think were going to get going. I'll see you in a few months eh?"
"Course Charlie, good luck with errr stuff," he said cryptically and gave him a wink. "Miss Julia it was wonderful meetin' ya."
"You too Hagrid," I said sincerely.
"Stuff?" I inquired after Charlie as we walked through the gates of Hogwarts. I was kind of sad to leave really. It was a beautiful place. Must have been really fun to go to school there.
"Just guy stuff," he answered. "Hey Julia," he said stopping for a moment.
"Yeah?" I asked suspiciously. Hey, hey he deserved it! He was being all secretive.
"Look at Hogwarts and tell me what you see," he requested. I gave him the raised eyebrow and turned to look back at the old castle.
"Is this a trick question?" I asked him, worriedly, as I turned back. I always hate when you don't know how you're suppose to answer. Like when you're at the doctors and she asked your symptoms. "Do you have a cough?" "No." "Are you sure?" "Yes." Should you have a cough? Does she want you to have one? Am I supposed to see the friggin castle?
"No, it's not a trick question," he answered seriously. "I should have asked you when we first arrived, but I didn't think to.
"I see the caste," I told him. "What's this about?" I asked as we started walking again.
"It's just odd the things that you can see. You're not a witch, but you can see bogarts and thestrals. I don't understand how that's possible."
"So why did you ask me about the castle?" I inquired.
"Well, when Muggles look at it they're supposed to see a condemned ruin and feel as if they've forgotten something and hurry home."
"Is that why I've got this horrible feeling I haven't bought all of my books for next semester?" I asked, trying to keep a straight face.
"Have you bought any of your books yet?" he asked skeptically. I looked up at the sky, giving the appearance of thought before looking back at him and shaking my head. He laughed and pulled me close blowing a raspberry on my neck. I squealed and broke free darting up the road, eliciting a chase.
Hogsmeade Village was wonderful; we drank butterbeer, though Charlie says you need a cold December day for the full effect. I'll take his word. We visited most of the shops including, of course, Quality Quidditch Supply, where Charlie bought me a book on Quidditch. I think it was intended for kids but considering my knowledge of the game I wasn't insulted. He said he would go over it with me after I read the book, and that the rules were still a bit complicated, so now I'm expecting a multiple choice quiz with an attached essay portion.
It was when I was browsing through another store that I saw what I had to buy. Well within my range, I forked over the money while Charlie was distracted, Molly and I did the whole currency exchange thing on the trip to Diagon Alley with the really weird, short men with pointy teeth. They kept leering at me; Molly said it was their nature.
We had just left the last store and were heading to the pub to floo back when I handed him the bag. "This is for you," I said.
"I was wondering what the big secret was about," he chuckled. Did I mention he does that a lot, laugh and smile. I swear it makes me feel like I'm on cloud nine. He lifted the book out of the bag and laughed out loud.
The title read, "So You've Married a Muggle: Here's How Not to Get Them Killed." I had actually found it.
Special thanks to my beta Alinora. Only she has to witness the horrors that are my drafts, for that you should be appreciative.
sugar-skyline it wasn't soon but here you go. Hnh thanks. Don't worry there is a plot. . .somewhere. I took out the catholic reference, it was inappropriately worded I think, thanks for the check. It's was kind of a joke between me and my friend who is catholic. Tara 6, awww thanks, this story is so much fun to write I hope I continue to earn your praise. Siond, you know I love you.
And here we go
If you can't remember what's happened in the story, I reread and reedited the last few chapters so I invite you to go back and get caught up.
Here you go, the long awaited 10th chapter
Hotter Than Most
Part 10
Is this a trick question?
"I think I broke my jaw," I whined quietly as we walked into the forest.
"I told you not to eat anything," Charlie laughed.
I, of course, remembered this too late, just as I tried to open my mouth to chew and found that I couldn't. Halfway through the conversation, Charlie noticed I was being a bit quiet and had an extreme look of concentration on my face. . . or so I'm guessing. I was probably more panicked and twitchy looking really. It kind of reminded me of the time in grade school when I glued my mouth shut with a jolly rancher between my teeth and when I finally pulled it loose, I was short a tooth. Luckily the treacle fudge unstuck, tooth free, and I spit it out demurely into a napkin and hid it under the edge of my plate. I could see Charlie shaking with laughter so I nudged him in the side and whispered for him to hush.
"You know this is called the 'Forbidden' Forest by all the students," Charlie said in a spooky tone.
"Is that because it's 'Forbidden?" I kind of mocked back.
"Well yeah, school rules and such. But it's also home to all sorts of magical creatures. When one of the Ministry Wizards from the Control of Magical Creatures department gets really brave they try to come out and catalogue them. The last two never came back."
"That's only some spook story you trying to scare me with," I said, primly turning my nose up. "Next thing you're going to say is that their ghosts still haunt these woods," I accused.
"Actually," interrupted Hagrid, "One of them still does. Comes round every month or so and dictates his reports to me. I send them off to the ministry for 'em."
Suddenly my lunch was starting to feel a little heavier in my stomach.
"We're almost there. But anyways, best not be wanderin' Julia. There are some dangerous things living in these woods and being a muggle and all I'm not sure if you'll be able to see them."
Yeah, well that calmed my fears right down. You know that feeling you get where it's like creepy crawlies running up your back and you have to shiver. I got that in spades!
Suddenly the woods started to dip and below us lay a peaceful clearing.
"Hagrid, it's wonderful mate," Charlie congratulated the man, giving him a thud on the back. "Perfect for the dragons."
"What? Dragons?" I said tearing my eyes away from the forest that I was searching for, random leaping out at you when you're not looking, creatures.
"Yeah," Charlie answered while gazing up at the tree canopy. "Dumbledore is sponsoring a tri-school competition, to promote international relations and all that. It's an old tradition, but this is the first time in like a hundred years that one's been held. Hey Hagrid, do you think we should charm a bigger opening?"
"Couldn't hurt. Wouldn't want the harnesses catching on the trees."
"What does this have to do with dragons?" I asked.
"Well, that's the first event," he explained. "I wasn't told what the test was, just that the ministry needed clutching females. I expect the kids have to snatch something out of the nest."
"Kids!" I shouted, instantly drawing his attention. "They're making kids go against dragons!"
"Now Jules," he pleaded.
"Don't you now Jules me!" I snapped back. "You know what it feels like to be burned by one of them. How could you put a kid in that kind of situation?" I snapped at him.
"They'll be perfectly safe," he insisted, weathering my temper like a pro. "There will be at least a hundred dragon handlers standing by." While this did ease my fears a little, I still couldn't bear the idea. When I closed my eyes I could still see that monster bearing down on me, feel the fire hitting my back. Suddenly his hands were on my shoulders and I found myself looking up into his cool green eyes. "It will be alright," he assured me.
"If you say so," I resigned. "But you had better keep a sharp eye on those kids," I warned him.
"Of course love," he said with a smile. He kissed me quickly before I could protest anymore and gave me a quick wink before turning back to Hagrid. I sighed and turned towards the woods. It didn't really seem that foreboding. I mean, not until the winds shifted and it looked like the whole place came alive. Alright! Now I was just scaring myself. 'Deep breaths Julia.' I took a few steps away from the meeting and look around more and I was actually starting to feel better when I really did see something. It was a bit in the distance, but it was a black horse and it had wings! Poor animal, even from this distance I could see it was thin as a rake. Its shinny skin clung to its bones. The horse had been moving slightly away, but suddenly it stopped and turned towards me. I gasped and tripped backwards falling in a heap.
My less than graceful decent had caught the men's attention and Charlie rushed over to hoist me up. "Jules are you alright? Did you see something?" I had still been starring dumbly out into the woods but his words jarred me back to the world.
"It was a horse, I think," I corrected, knowing the description wasn't accurate. It was like God had started sculpting and decided, 'eh good enough.' "But it had the creepiest large white eyes," I said shivering. Charlie wrapped his arms around me from behind as we both looked out into the forest.
"Can't take you anywhere you know?" he teased, "You always drag out some monster or another." I elbowed him lightly in the side, eliciting a grunt.
"Only when I'm around you," I corrected him, bringing a smile to my face. The cold feeling seemed to ease away and I looked up at him and he kissed my temple lightly and yeah, I sighed. A girl could definitely get use to him.
"So, what do you think Hagrid?" Charlie asked and I look over to see the really big man squinting into the trees. "I can't see it." I didn't take it personally; I know he believed I saw it.
"Just the Thestrals," Hagrid concluded gesturing into the distance, "The herd's back there a little ways. Don't worry Miss Julia," he assured me good-naturedly. "Thestrals don't really hurt anyone unless they get really annoyed. Besides this group is tame."
I heard Charlie snort at that, but I wasn't really sure why. But odd thing is, he suddenly grew really still, I turned to look at him. "It's nothing," he said quickly before I could ask, "was just remembering something." He gave me a fast smile to answer my questioning glance. In past experience and in all of the TV shows I've watched, nothing is ever nothing. Nothing is 'I don't want to admit to being scared or worried' or 'I don't want you to be scared or worried'.
"Okay, keep your secret," I said pulling out of his arms, but offering my hand to show there was no offense. "Do you need more time? I'm sure I could find some more trouble to be had." Charlie smiled back for real this time.
"No, I think we're finished for now. Hagrid, I think were going to get going. I'll see you in a few months eh?"
"Course Charlie, good luck with errr stuff," he said cryptically and gave him a wink. "Miss Julia it was wonderful meetin' ya."
"You too Hagrid," I said sincerely.
"Stuff?" I inquired after Charlie as we walked through the gates of Hogwarts. I was kind of sad to leave really. It was a beautiful place. Must have been really fun to go to school there.
"Just guy stuff," he answered. "Hey Julia," he said stopping for a moment.
"Yeah?" I asked suspiciously. Hey, hey he deserved it! He was being all secretive.
"Look at Hogwarts and tell me what you see," he requested. I gave him the raised eyebrow and turned to look back at the old castle.
"Is this a trick question?" I asked him, worriedly, as I turned back. I always hate when you don't know how you're suppose to answer. Like when you're at the doctors and she asked your symptoms. "Do you have a cough?" "No." "Are you sure?" "Yes." Should you have a cough? Does she want you to have one? Am I supposed to see the friggin castle?
"No, it's not a trick question," he answered seriously. "I should have asked you when we first arrived, but I didn't think to.
"I see the caste," I told him. "What's this about?" I asked as we started walking again.
"It's just odd the things that you can see. You're not a witch, but you can see bogarts and thestrals. I don't understand how that's possible."
"So why did you ask me about the castle?" I inquired.
"Well, when Muggles look at it they're supposed to see a condemned ruin and feel as if they've forgotten something and hurry home."
"Is that why I've got this horrible feeling I haven't bought all of my books for next semester?" I asked, trying to keep a straight face.
"Have you bought any of your books yet?" he asked skeptically. I looked up at the sky, giving the appearance of thought before looking back at him and shaking my head. He laughed and pulled me close blowing a raspberry on my neck. I squealed and broke free darting up the road, eliciting a chase.
Hogsmeade Village was wonderful; we drank butterbeer, though Charlie says you need a cold December day for the full effect. I'll take his word. We visited most of the shops including, of course, Quality Quidditch Supply, where Charlie bought me a book on Quidditch. I think it was intended for kids but considering my knowledge of the game I wasn't insulted. He said he would go over it with me after I read the book, and that the rules were still a bit complicated, so now I'm expecting a multiple choice quiz with an attached essay portion.
It was when I was browsing through another store that I saw what I had to buy. Well within my range, I forked over the money while Charlie was distracted, Molly and I did the whole currency exchange thing on the trip to Diagon Alley with the really weird, short men with pointy teeth. They kept leering at me; Molly said it was their nature.
We had just left the last store and were heading to the pub to floo back when I handed him the bag. "This is for you," I said.
"I was wondering what the big secret was about," he chuckled. Did I mention he does that a lot, laugh and smile. I swear it makes me feel like I'm on cloud nine. He lifted the book out of the bag and laughed out loud.
The title read, "So You've Married a Muggle: Here's How Not to Get Them Killed." I had actually found it.
