Okay then. Sorry it took so long. My computer broke down and took forever to be fixed! But here's another chapter. And it's fairly long, so hopefully it makes up for it! Hope you all like it, I'm particularly fond of it! :)
Disclaimer:
I DO NOT own Harry Potter or any related material…except Amanda…Some Things Are Worth Dying For
Chapter Nine: The Third Hogsmeade Visit
You would think that because of my talk with Dumbledore, I wouldn't have a problem approaching George. But the idea of seeing him and talking to him after what had happened, was strangely harder for me to do than agreeing to continue with Harry-sitting.
I had been standing outside the door to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes for about five minutes, just looking in. Fred was behind the counter and appeared to be talking to himself as he counted up some money. I couldn't see George anywhere.
"Okay," I took a deep breath, "Go on Amanda, it's easy. Don't be shy. You aren't a shy person."
I held the breath as I pushed open the door and stepped inside. Fred didn't look up from the counter and I could see he wasn't talking to himself but, in fact, out loud to George who was stacking shelves off to the side.
"-so then Angelina told me that Katie was coming tonight and I thought, hey, whose lonely and in need of some action? Why, my handsome brother George of course!" Fred grinned, "What do you say? Come on a double date tonight with Angelina and me? Cos Katie's pretty good-looking you know."
"Nah, I'll be fine." George said as he continued to fill the shelves.
"Katie wants you do come." Fred said.
"Well then you can tell her sorry. Say I'm getting my nose hair permed or something."
"George," Fred stopped counting the money and turned towards his brother, "When are you going to get over this? You didn't even go out with the girl!"
"There's nothing to get over."
"Bloody liar," Fred chided, "You've been moping around ever since that thing happened when we went to watch Ron play Quidditch. She's a Slytherin, and an evil-sounding one at that. You were probably just a quick snog to her or something."
"I know," George sighed, "But, it's just, I don't know."
"Right," Fred said slowly, "You don't know."
"Yeah."
"Well, then come out tonight. It'll cheer you up! And who knows…Katie might be in the mood for a little snogging herself…" Fred hinted.
The euphoria that had filled me at the thought that I had effected George in such a way washed out of me and was replaced with a buzzing jealously. I really didn't want to think about George snogging another girl.
"Er," I cleared my throat, "George?"
Both twins turned around to face me at the same time.
"I thought I said you weren't allowed in my shop again?" Fred snapped.
"And I thought George said it was okay."
My reply was directed at Fred, but my gaze was trained on George. There were no more scabs on his face and his hair had pretty much grown back. It wasn't as long as it was before, in fact, it was considerably shorter. But it suited him quite well. What didn't suit him was the angry look on his face.
We stared at each other for a few moments before Fred rolled his eyes and snorted.
"I'll just go out back and pretend to do something important while you two talk shall I?" He said, before disappearing into the storage room.
The moment he was gone, I took my chance.
"George-"
"If you aren't going to buy anything, I'd suggest you leave," He seemed to come to life, "Because I expect it's going to be quite busy today."
"Okay," I picked up an object on a nearby shelf and placed it on the counter, "I'll have this."
George raised an eyebrow, "A bag of Fur Fudge?"
I looked down and scowled. Indeed, I had picked up some Fur Fudge. How lovely.
I shook my head, "George, please, I need to explain to you-"
"Fur Fudge it is then. That'll be twelve Sickles and two Knuts." He interrupted.
"Don't be an idiot," I said quietly, "It will only take me a moment to explain everything, then we can both have peace of mind."
"I have peace of mind," George frowned, "I always have peace of mind."
"Well then…let me explain anyway. Because it's not as bad as you may think. That day at the Quidditch match-"
He shook his head and the unfamiliar look of anger found its way back onto his face.
"I should have known you'd pull something like that," He said scathingly, "You are a Slytherin."
"I know that, but you don't understand-"
"Sneaky, the whole lot of you. Fred told me to stay clear. He said there was something shifty about you," He sighed, "I just never saw it. Or I didn't want to see it."
"I'm sorry you had too," I said slowly, "But I want you to know it's a side of me that only exists when my mother is around."
"And?"
"The things I said, about never wanting to associate with you and such, I had to say them. My mother, you saw her, she'd kill me if I challenged her or anything she believed in!" I said bluntly. Well, honesty was usually the best approach.
"Yeah, right." He said shortly.
"No, George," I made sure he was looking directly at me, "She would kill me."
"Everyone thinks things like that sometimes. It's just overreacting-"
"No it's not," I assured him, "My mother would kill me."
His eyes traveled back and forth across my face, as though trying to see if I was being sincere, until finally he sighed. It seemed he believed me, but to him that still wasn't enough.
"You still said all that crap and-"
"Only because she was there. But I didn't mean any of it. Because I really, really like you and I the last thing I want is for you to hate me."
"I don't hate you, I just dislike you greatly." He said.
My face fell, "Really?"
"Maybe," George crossed his arms across his chest, "The thing is, you see, that I don't know what you're thinking about when you're around me because the people that come from your house don't exactly have the nicest reputation. For all I know, you want to murder me."
"Why would I want to murder you?" I demanded.
"I don't know," He threw his hands up in the air, "You're the evil madwoman."
I sighed, "Listen, I'm not like the other's in my house. I'm not an evil madwoman."
"Uh huh."
"George, please," Some tears began to form in my eyes, "I like you a lot. Do you remember when I came in here and you first met me and found out that I'd had a crush on you?"
"Yeah…"
"And do you remember asking me what it was I liked about you, and why I didn't like Fred?"
"Yeah, you didn't tell me."
"It was because you made me smile," I said truthfully, desperate for him to believe me, "I liked watching what you did because it always made me smile. For some reason if Fred did something, I didn't smile, but if you did it…that was a whole other story. I couldn't explain it."
He looked extremely taken aback and a moment passed by before a slow grin spread across his face, "I am pretty funny."
"Do you…what I said…" I tried to form a coherent sentence with great difficulty. Why was it I couldn't function properly about this guy? Well, it was the reason I wanted him in my life really. But that didn't make sense. I wanted George Weasley in my life so I could be an easily provoked, incoherent moron?
"Listen, if you're still up for that date we never had, maybe you'd like to come back later?" George said slowly, "If I can get through a meal without being poisoned or attacked, we'll see what happens."
"Oh George, thank you," I restrained the urge to kiss him, "It'll be fine."
"Spose," He paused and then smiled, "Because you know, I really, really like you too."
I could have melted if it were possible for humans to melt.
"When do you want me to come back?" I asked.
"Well, it's what…twelve o'clock now? Come back at around twelve thirty. I'll have everything ready out back."
"Okay."
I wanted to prance out of the store but it would have made me look decidedly uncool, so instead I walked out slowly, casting George a final smile as I stepped outside. He grinned back and I headed off down the streets of Hogsmeade, which looked extremely beautiful this particular day.
"And Ron says it's not a date!" Hermione said irritably, "But I know it is so a date. Who goes out three times with someone that they don't like as more than a friend? Who does?"
She directed her question at Harry, who shrugged.
"Dunno."
I'd found them shortly after I had left Weasley's Wizard Wheezes and had decided to put on my Invisibility Necklace and do a bit of Harry-sitting before my date with George. I smiled, my date with George.
"I think he fancies her," Hermione sniffed, "I really think he does. And he won't tell us he does! What is-"
"If it bother's you so much, ask him out on a date." Harry said in annoyance.
Hermione blushed, "It doesn't bother me because of that."
"Then why does it bother you?" Harry demanded.
"Well," She paused, "It's the principle of it of course! He's keeping all of these secrets and we're supposed to be his best friends. But he won't tell us that he fancies Luna! I think that-"
"I don't think he fancies her," said Harry seriously.
"Really?" Hermione was anxious; "Do you really think he doesn't?"
Harry looked amused, "Sure. I think he might fancy someone else."
"WHAT?" She moaned, "Well that's stupid. He's going out on dates with Luna when he likes someone else! What sort of person does that?"
"Hermione," Harry said with a grin, "For someone whose supposed to be the cleverest Witch of her age, you can be a bit thick sometimes."
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Hermione said in a severe voice. Harry rolled his eyes and I wanted to laugh. Maybe he did realise some things.
"Well?" Hermione's brow furrowed.
"How about you talk to him about it?" Harry suggested.
"I have talked to him about it."
"No," He shook his head, "You've yelled at him about it. That's different. Try talking to him, in a nice, calm, pleasant voice."
Hermione smiled, "He'll think I'm possessed or something."
"Maybe," Harry laughed, "But if you really want to find out what's going on, try it."
"Do you think so?" She bit her bottom lip, "Because as his best friend-"
"Best friend, right." Harry said sarcastically.
"Okay. What is that supposed to mean?" Hermione questioned.
"It means…Ow." He closed his eyes.
"Ow?" Hermione pulled a face.
"No, it…" Harry bent over forwards, "Ow."
"Harry?" She peered down at him, looking scared, "Are you all right?"
"Yes," He stood back up, "Anyway, it means…ARGH!"
He bent over forwards again, falling to his knees roughly. Hermione shrieked and was quickly at his side, wrapping her arms around him in an attempt to keep him upright.
"Are you okay? Harry? Are you all right?" She said in a quiet voice.
"Scar…hurts…Voldemort…" He mumbled, collapsing to the ground.
"Oh no, oh no, oh no," Hermione got to her feet, "Oh, what am I going to do? What am I going to do?"
What were we going to do? I looked around frantically, desperately trying to spot someone. Anyone. But we were on the outskirts of Hogsmeade and no one else was around.
"Get Ron." I said, trying to make a plan form in my mind. Hermione looked in my general direction, her face stricken.
"Who's that?"
"Just get Ron, I'll watch Harry." I said quickly.
Hermione paused, thinking, and then nodded, running off into the depths of Hogsmeade. She obviously wasn't thinking properly, because no one in their right mind would have left one of their best friends lying on the ground because a voice from mid air told them too. Luckily, considering the circumstances, I wasn't evil.
"Harry?" I knelt beside him. He was still conscious, but on the verge of blacking out, and breathing in sharp, ragged breaths.
"I don't have…I don't know what to do…" I said worriedly, brushing my hand across his sweating forehead, "It's okay Harry. Hermione's gone to get Ron, and then they'll take you back to the castle. You'll be all right. Don't worry."
Harry moaned and then slumped to the ground, unconscious. I conjured up a bowl of water and a cloth and started mopping his brow. Even though he was unconscious, he was sweating as though he had some sort of fierce fever. Hurry up Hermione, I urged her silently.
It seemed like a lifetime before she returned with Ron as her side panting heavily, his face ghost-white.
"Take him up to the castle!" I told them. Ron jumped.
"Who the bloody hell said that?" He seemed to shriek.
"I don't know. I think it's a ghost or someone under an invisibility cloak or something," Hermione replied, "Come on, help me!"
She and Ron picked up Harry and carried him between them, as they began treading up to the castle. I intended to follow them, but there was something else still on my mind.
I had fixed everything with George, and as much as I was worried about Harry, I wasn't about to screw up the only relationship I valued in my life.
I tore off my Invisibility Necklace and sped down to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, nearly knocking over a group of third years as I ran through the entrance.
"Watch where you're-" Some Hufflepuff began but I shot them a glare and they shut up.
Fred was behind the counter serving some more Hogwarts students, but stopped when he saw me.
"You're late you know," He said angrily, "George has been sitting out back for about ten minutes now."
"He's out back? Thanks!" I said quickly, hurrying around the counter.
I found George at a table, tapping his fingers impatiently. He'd laid out a very nice meal, with candles and everything, which was pretty fancy considering it was lunch. And pretty fancy considering it was George Weasley.
"Oh good," He smiled when I ran into the room, "I thought you weren't going to show. Well, actually I didn't think that. Fred told me you wouldn't. And then I started to think that-"
"I have to go." I told him. He frowned.
"You just got here."
"I know, but something's come up! Listen, I really wanted to do this date thing, and the next Quidditch match is Slytherin versus Gryffindor at the end of March, so if you come to that then we can do it then? Does that sound okay? We can owl each other and make the plans!" I said it all in a rush, but George seemed to understand.
"Sure, I guess. But-"
"Thanks!" I restrained myself from kissing him once more before I turned and ran out of the shop as quickly as I had entered it, putting my necklace back on as I did so.
I went full throttle and caught up with Ron, Hermione and Harry just as they reached the castle grounds.
"Someone should get help." Hermione told Ron. But I was already thinking that as I sprinted around them and up into the castle. It only took me a few minutes to reach Dumbledore's office.
"Open statue! It's an emergency!" I told the gargoyle. As predicted, it didn't move.
"OPEN YOU STUPID PIECE OF STONE! DIDN'T YOU HEAR ME? THIS IS AN-"
It suddenly slid sideways and Dumbledore appeared before me, looking shocked.
"Surely there is another way in which you are able to reach me, Miss Bane?" He said lightly, before frowning, "What is the matter?"
"It's Harry! His scar was…well I don't know! But he passed out!" I told him.
Dumbledore's eyes widened and then he said in a very clear voice, "Where is he?"
"He's at the front of the castle, where the path leads to Hogsmeade. Ron and Hermione are with him-"
"Very well. Thank you."
He hurried off and I followed him, not knowing what else to do. We met the trio several minutes later, who looked like they were making their way up to the Headmaster's office and Hermione appeared thoroughly relieved when Dumbledore came into sight.
"Sir, we were just coming to get-"
"Yes, yes, I know. Quickly, let us take him to Madam Pompfrey," He began to lead them away in the direction of the infirmary, "Now Miss Granger, can you tell me what happened…"
I watched them disappear around a corner, and fell to the floor, panting heavily. I had never run so fast in my life, and obviously I wasn't as fit and healthy as I thought I was.
Feeling light-headed, it seemed like a good idea to lay down on the cool, stone floor, and before I knew what was happening I had closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep. My last thought wasn't about Harry though. It was about how the bloody hell Dumbledore had been able to see me with my Invisibility Necklace on!
I moaned and rolled onto my back to get more comfortable. What was I lying on? Whatever it was, it had made my neck cramp up. I moaned again and opened my eyes slightly, only to find myself staring into a dark, hooded face.
I screamed and scrambled to my feet.
"Please don't hurt me!"
"Amusing though your cowardice is Miss Bane," said an angry voice, "I would rather question you on the situation in which I have just discovered you."
Professor McGonagall pulled the hood of her robes back and looked at me sternly.
"Er…"
"I see," She said snappishly, "You are unable to give me a response. In that case I can only deduce that a student found in the corridors this late at night was causing trouble."
And I can only deduce that McGonagall really has a problem with me. Well, I suppose that was obvious.
"I wasn't causing trouble, I just fell asleep." I said quickly.
"A likely story."
"No, I-"
"Minerva, you found her!" Professor Snape appeared from the darkness and attempted a smile, "I must admit, I was getting quite worried."
"No Severus," McGonagall said firmly, "I am not letting you get her out of trouble this time. She is out past curfew, considerably past curfew, and as a result must be punished."
I scowled and Snape became grim.
"That is not necessary."
"Yes, it is."
"She was not breaking the rules intentionally."
"How do you know?"
"I just do. Minerva, you would be out of line by-"
"No Professor Snape," McGonagall glowered, "She must learn. I have not, in all my days, come across a more arrogant, spoilt child! It is time she was put in her place and not allowed lenience because she happens to know-"
"The person you are referring too would not be my student!" Snape shot back, "It appears you are describing none other than Harry Potter, a student from your own house!"
McGonagall looked like a cat ready to pounce as she surveyed Snape through narrowed eyes. Then she spun around with a flourish and disappeared into the darkness.
"She hates me." I said immediately.
"Don't misjudge her indifference," Snape told me, "The teachers care for all the students equally."
I knew for a fact this wasn't true, and that Snape was being a hypocrite for saying it. I'd seen the way he treated Harry. But I wasn't going to complain because I really appreciated his favoritism. Who wouldn't want the most fearful Professor on their side?
"Would I be correct in my assumption that you are out late due to a deal involved with a the signing of a piece of parchment six months ago?" He asked me.
I blinked. The teachers spoke so strangely at my school.
"I have no idea what you mean by that, sir." I replied shortly.
"Good," He nodded, "Now get to bed."
I sighed and walked off, it was stupid of me too get caught in the first place. I should have had my Invisibility Necklace on. Hang on. I put a hand up to my neck. I was wearing my necklace.
Sighing, I removed it. The charm on it must have worn off. Bloody great. Now I had nothing to wear when I left my common room at night.
Unless…
Well, I still had Harry's Invisibility Cloak tucked away in my trunk. I could always just…yes, that would be fine. I smiled as I stepped inside the dungeons, only to have it wiped off my face at the sight of Millicent.
"What are you doing?" She seemed to be startled.
"I'm doing nothing. What are you doing?"
"Nothing."
We stared at each other for a moment.
"I was just…" Millicent trailed off.
"Yeah…me too." I looked away.
"So, I'll see you later."
"Yes. I'll see you later."
She hurried up to our dorm room and I frowned. Well, that was just plain bizarre.
I yawned. Who cared? I was tired. I made my way up after my dorm mate but stopped when I heard a noise coming from the dungeon entrance. I turned slightly and my frown deepened.
Draco walked in, carrying something under his robes and looking every bit as shifty as a Slytherin could. Without even glancing around the common room he headed straight towards the boys' dormitories. Something nudged my foot and distracted, I looked down to find Sinead.
"Something's going on," I told her, "People are acting really…strangely. What's that you've got there?"
I bent down and pulled a letter out of her mouth.
"A letter?" I said in confusion, "Aren't the owls supposed to-"
My cat licked her lips.
"Sinead!" I gasped, "You didn't eat the delivery owl did you?"
She sniffed at me and headed into my dorm room, leaving me gaping. I sure did have an evil cat. Imagine her eating the school owls! I would be in so much trouble.
Numbly I opened the letter and found myself. It was from George:
Amanda
I don't know what the go was with you leaving today after we planned the date and everything. All I can say is it was rude, annoying and very Slytherin of you.
As a former Gryffindor I should by all means sever ties with you. But, as one who likes to break the rules, I wont. So write back about the details for our other date. Maybe one we can go through with.
See you in a month or so.
George
I sighed in a very girlish way and floated on a cloud into my dormitory. Sinead was at the end of my bed already falling asleep and I hastily shooed her off it, my annoyance returning slightly.
"Go and watch Harry," I whispered, "You naughty cat! I hope no one finds out you ate that owl."
I'm sure if cats could roll their eyes; Sinead would have before she skulked out of my room. She has such a bloody attitude. But I didn't care. I reread George's letter once more and put it under my pillow. You can guess what I dreamt about that night.
!!!
A/N:
Yes, well, not many people reviewed the last chapter…but I do not care! I just love writing this so much! It's such a nice change if it's a character you've created…Anyway, thanks to those who did review!
Amy:
Thank you so much! I love the George and Amanda coupling too, they're so different but so…I don't know…Galinda the hobbitwizard:
Glad you love it! I've never heard of Zenon! But enlighten me…what's it about? Oh please don't tell me it sounds like my story was copied off it…no!Slythsrule:
Here's that update. Hmm, do you just like this because it's about a Slytherin? Lol.Dark Angels:
Wow! Thanks! Glad she's believable…hope this chapter didn't change your idea of her…Until next time guys! (Which hopefully won't be too long!)
