Chapter 9
Eliza's POV:
It has been a whirlwind day, to say the least. It started by me being dragged from my bed and escorted to McGonagall's office by a house elf. The visit was uncomfortable. James seemed to have been crying, Ginny Potter kept hugging me and kissing my cheeks, Harry repeatedly told me that they would always be here if I needed them. Sweet sentiments, though, I didn't know how to respond.
McGonagall also dropped the bomb that I might want to start taking extra courses to try to graduate a year early.
As if the looming prospect of having a child as a sixteen year old wasn't stressful enough.
The only good part about that meeting was that Mum whisked me away to Madame Pomfrey's so quickly that James didn't have the chance to talk to me alone. That, and when Madame Pomfrey waved her wand above my stomach and the sound of my baby's heartbeat filled the hospital wing.
My baby. Bloody hell.
Now I'm sitting on my bed, wincing as Dom and Rose tug at my hair. For some reason, I've let myself be talked into letting them get me ready for my date.
"How much longer?"
I can practically hear Dom roll her eyes. "If you really want Colin to like you, it's going to take longer than your usual comb-through-hair, out-the-door routine."
I groan loudly, and Rose pulls sharply on a piece of hair. "Quit whining. We're almost done."
I manage to sit still for another thirty seconds before I feel them pin up my hair, and Dom shoves a mirror into my hands. Tentatively, I take a glance.
"Oh. Wow," I say softly. "You're getting really good at this."
They've braided my blonde hair around my head in kind of a halo, and used minimal makeup to cover up the red splotches that decorate my face from all the crying. I look pretty, and fresh.
"We thought it would be perfect for a study date. Simple and no fuss," Rose grins.
"And it wouldn't take so long if you'd learn to keep that big head still," Dom teases.
I throw my arms around them both, squeezing them tightly. "Thank you so much," I whisper.
Rose pushes my off, rolling her eyes. "Alright, hormones. Lets get you downstairs. I'm sure we've kept Colin waiting long enough."
They practically shove me down the stairs, and I trip on the third step from the bottom, falling ungracfully into the common room, landing on my ass.
Smooth.
"Eliza!" Colin is swiftly making his way towards me, reaching out his hand. I take it sheepishly, avoiding eye contact as he helps me up. I can feel a blush creep up my cheeks.
"Thanks," I say quietly.
Colin grabs my chin gently and lifts my eyes to meet his. The guesture seems rather intimate, especially in the crowded common room, but he's smiling so genuinely at me that I don't really care. "You look really pretty," he grins.
I smile and bite my lip. "Thanks," this kid truly does know how to win a girl over.
"Well..." He extends his arm. "Shall we?"
I laugh and take his elbow. "Let's," I say in an absurd voice. I allow him to lead me from the common room towards the direction of the library.
"So, I was thinking," he begins. "Since neither of us need any help in classes... We turn this study date into a tea date."
I laugh, looking at him. "Why, Colin Finnegan! I never took you as the devious sort, but you've been planning this switch all along, haven't you?" I tease.
He laughs and nods. "Guilty. Come on, Lize. I wouldn't take the prettiest girl in the school in any old study date, would I?"
My face turns bright red. "I suppose not," I say quietly.
We walk in comfortable silence to the entrance to the kitchens. Just as Colin is reaching to tickle the pear, the portrait swings open, and we're standing face to face with James and Albus Potter.
Just my luck.
I see James' face begin to redden as he looks from me, to Colin, to our linked arms. "What's this?"
I scowl defiantly at him. "A date."
"With Finnegan?"
"James," Albus warns quietly.
Colin laughs uncomfortably. "Am I missing something?"
Albus shakes his head vigorously. "Oh no," he laughs nervously. "You know how these two can be..." He begins to yank James away from us by the wrist. "Have a nice date!"
Colin and I stand there for a moment in awkward silence after they leave. "Are the Potter boys always that... Odd?" Colin asks slowly.
"Yes," I reply shortly. I release his arm and stroll into the kitchen, happy to met by countless squeaky voices calling "Mistress Longbottom!"
I greet the House Elves, and we are soon sat down at one of the long tables, teas and cakes being shoved in front of us eagerly. "If you need anything else, just call," a house elf named Twyla squeaks excitedly. As she scurries away, Colin looks at me with a grin.
"Let's play twenty questions."
I laugh. "Okay. You start."
"What's you're favorite color?"
"Blue," I say with a soft smile. "And your's?"
"Yellow," he grins. "Bright. And loud. Just like me." He runs a hand through his wavy hair. "Your turn."
"What's your favorite food?"
"Easy," he replies quickly. "Butter. Disgusting, I know, but I can eat the stuff plain. With a spoon."
I laugh, and we launch into a full game of questions. I learn plenty of little things that don't matter about Colin- that his favorite sound is rain on the greenhouse roof, that his least favorite color is orange, that he likes cats... He learns useless things about me- my weird obsession with muggle electricity, my irrational fear of the giant squid... And as I sit here, laughing and learning about Colin, I begin to feel a nagging in the pit of my stomach.
I think I'm beginning to really... Fancy Colin Finnegan.
"Last question," he says dramatically.
I lean forward, placing my chin in my hands. "Okay. Shoot."
"Do you wanna fly around the pitch with me tomorrow? Like another date?"
I feel my stomach flip. "Of course!" I say quickly. Colin grins widely.
We walk back up to the common room quickly, as it's almost curfew. As we approach the stairs to the girls dormitory, I turn to him and shrug awkwardly. "Thanks? This was fun?" I laugh. "Sorry, I was never good at this part."
He smiles nervously. "Me either. I guess I just..." He trails off and looks at me silently for a moment before quickly leaning forward and pecking me on the cheek. "See you tomorrow," he says quickly, then turns and stalks up the stairs to the boys dormitory.
I feel myself blush, and I can't contain my smile as I walk in the dormitory and face all the girls. "He's wonderful," I say shortly, as an answer to their questioning faces.
"Do you like him?" Rose asks.
I nod.
"You know, if you start to date, sooner or later you're gonna have to tell him you're pregnant with James' kid," Dom says softly.
I feel my smile fade.
That's right. The baby. James... James who I'm still madly, pathetically in love with.
Suddenly, I'm not so happy any more.
Authors note:
Hello lovelies! I'm back! Sorry for the haitus. Ballet got crazy... But I'm back! This chapter is a little all over the place... But how cute is Colin?! Please rate and review, it means the world. Oh, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!:)
