NINE

I woke up and the first thing I notice is that my head is thumping as if there are a load of trolls bumbling about in there and hitting the inside of my skull with their huge clubs.

I sat up putting one hand to my head from the pain of the headache.

Then it occurred to me. Why on earth did I have a headache?

I was rarely ill, and even though I normally spend hours working in the dark library I never get headaches like Al always seems to. Though I reckon he makes some of them up to escape revision.

That was when it dawned on me.

I had a hangover.

I'd gotten drunk last night. In detention!

Merlin. I was so unworthy of my prefects badge.

Memories of what happened the night before in the hospital wing began to filter through. Firewhiskey…lots of firewhiskey…the five Slytherins…truth or dare…Pucey daring me and Miranda to take off our clothes.

Oh god. I didn't really prance about in my bra and knickers did I?

Well, suffice to say, alcohol certainly does loosen one up. If not make one completely mental and do stupid things. Like strip in front of the Slytherins…and Malfoy…

It was quite light already and the only other person still in bed was Miranda who had just let out a humungous snore. I couldn't help but giggle.

Then I wish I hadn't because it made my head hurt even more.

Miranda let out a huge yawn and then sat up.

"Aaah! My head!" she groaned.

"Me too," I said, still massaging my scalp in an attempt to make my headache go away.

Miranda looked up at me and smiled. Wow. That was the first sign of sober friendship I'd had from her since we started school back in first year.

"You know, I used to think you were a little bit…well…boring. But actually, you're really not," she said, a little nervous of insulting me.

"That's ok. I guess I was a bit boring," I said with a slight chuckle which made my head start throbbing even worse again.

"No really, I'm sorry I was such a bitch to you," she said.

Who knew this day would ever come? The day when Miranda apologized for being a bitch to me.

"You were never that bad," I reasoned.

"Actually, I was. I feel awful now, and not just because I have the worst hangover that I've had in ages," she said with a lazy smile.

"Hey, I forgive you. But only if you stop me ever from drinking that much firewhiskey again," I replied and we both laughed and then groaned because the laughing hurt our heads.

"Shall we head down to breakfast?" she asked, flicking back her duvet and grabbing her school uniform.

"Sure," I replied. So I got up and found a clean shirt got changed.

***

"So….Rose…what exactly happened to you last night?" Tess asked me as I sat at the Gryffindor table stuffing my face with cornflakes.

"Huh? Nothing…just detention," I lied.

"Rose, don't lie," she said with a smirk that could rival Malfoy's, "we saw you come back to the common room completely wasted, say something about Slytherins and the Hospital Wing and then you passed out."

Oh.

I grinned sheepishly.

"I'll beat them up if you want," said Al showing me his clenched fist and peering over at the Slytherin table where Pucey, Vaisey, Nott, Zabini and Malfoy were looking a little worse for wear.

"Stop showing off, Al. You couldn't beat up five Slytherins," Tess said rolling her eyes at him.

"How did you know there were five?" I asked her.
"Because there are only five Slytherins looking like crap this morning," she replied, "Anyway, what did happen?"

"Well, they turned up at the beginning of our detention with firewhiskey. I drank it to prove I wasn't a coward and then, well it's a bit of a blur," I said, taking another large bite of toast.

"So you don't remember any of your drunken antics?" Tess asked a little disappointed.

"Well, we played truth or dare. Can you believe that Nott and Vaisey once snogged accidentally!" I told them in a whisper so no one else would hear.

Al burst out laughing.

"Yeah, well that's not the weirdest bit. Miranda was there too, and surprisingly we actually got on. She's really nice once you get to know her," I told them as they stared back astonished at me.

"I'm still not going out with her," Al announced. Tess and I laughed.

"Talking of dates, how are things with you and Max?" I asked Tess with a smirk. It may be unbelievable, but after the incident at the weekend where Max had completely ignored me I figured that no matter how pretty I made myself, he would never like me. So I've given up on him.

I think I only liked him because he was really hot anyway. Let's face it, he's not exactly someone you can have a decent conversation with anyway.

And he seems to have some sort of huge crush on Tess, which Al and I find absolutely hilarious because she is probably the only girl in the whole school who detests him.

"Eurgh…Max…" she shivered involuntarily, "He just follows me around all the time. It is so annoying."

"Do you want me to beat him up for you Tess?" Al said, posing to make him look as macho as possible, when in reality he just looked like a bit of an idiot.

"Show off," Tess coughed.

"I think she'll be fine Al," I said with a smile.

"Fine, but don't say I didn't offer," he replied. "Anyway, is no one going to ask me about my magnificent news?"

"No," Tess and I said simultaneously.

Al pretended to look deeply hurt, "Well, you should ask, especially you Tess, seeing as it concerns you."
"Oooh, what?? Tell…please?" Tess pleaded.

Al shook his head and folded his arms as Tess tugged on his sleeve and gave him her puppy dog eyes. Finally he gave in, "Fine, I'll tell you. You know the Quidditch match?"

Tess nodded. "The Chudley Cannons one."

"Yeah. Well, my dad got us invites to the after party! We get to meet all the players!" Al said excitedly, "And Rose you can come too if you want, that way you can have the party without the match!"

"Wow! That's really cool!" I replied with a grin. Tess squealed and enveloped Al in a huge hug. Al looked at me over her blonde head and when I caught his eye, he blushed furiously. I grinned at him and raised my eyebrow knowingly.

"I love your dad!" she said.

"And me. You love me too," Al reminded her.

"Of course I love you too, but your dad is the one who got the tickets so he is the one I love at the moment," she said with the tone of explaining apparition to a three year old.

Al grinned.

***

"Hi," I said before I sat down next to Malfoy at our table in Transfiguration. After the detention I figured that maybe he didn't hate me so much, and therefore I would reduce the risk of getting another detention thanks to him.

My theory was correct as he smiled at me when I sat down.

"Hey, Weasley," he said, making space for me to fit my books and my quill.

McGonagall came in and started talking so I began taking notes, occasionally looking up to watch McGonagall's demonstrations. I was half way through copying some notes down from the board when a note landed in front of me. I paused my quill and looked up to see where it had come from. No one was turning my way. I opened up the crinkled paper.

did i really offer you my pants

yesterday? – Ben

I laughed, and looked at Ben Nott. He turned round and then indicated that I should reply. I dipped my quill into my ink and wrote a reply. Soon, he threw it back again.

Yes you did. I had to refuse because

they were your last remaining item of

clothing.

my apologies. I had to ask – zabini

was laughing at me this morning. By

the way…do you think Miranda would

go out with me?

He looked back at me after throwing this one, and in reply to his question I shrugged, then mouthed 'probably'.

"What are you doing on Halloween?" Malfoy suddenly piped up in a whisper.

"Uh…well there's the dance, but I don't know if I'm going yet…" I replied, quietly.

"Do you…er…do you…" he stammered. I raised my eyebrows urging him to go on.

"Weasley, can I have a word with you please?" McGonagall's voice came from the front of the class.

I slipped off my chair and went up to her. The rest of the class was busy practicing the spell she had just taught us.

"I heard from Professor Ackerley what happened on your detention yesterday," she stated sounding extremely disappointed.

"I'm really sorry professor, I'm disappointed in myself too," I told her, shame-facedly.

"It's alright. Sometimes we have to have fun, though obviously I'd rather it wasn't in a detention I set," she gave me a withered old smile.

I looked at her quite shocked. I was honestly expecting her to get mad at me.

"I don't approve of it, if that's what you think," she reminded me, "I just wanted to tell you that I'm going to write to your mother about it. I feel its something she needs to be aware of."

One word: Shit.

Mum will explode! This is the first time I've got in trouble since…well…since ever!

I crossed my fingers. Please don't send a howler, please don't send a how-

"You can go back to your desk now," she told me, "And don't worry, just make sure it doesn't happen again."

Please don't send a howler.