Well, this is the next chapter, I suppose. I haven't really decided where the story is going, but it's going pretty well...lol... I guess that I'm going to have quite a few chapters, if they're going to be this short. As in 1000-3000 words short. So, this chapter is about her date with Toby.

Review? Please?

At breakfast the next morning, Neeve, my owl, came fluttering in with her long ashy gray feathers all wrinkled. She came up to me and I smoothed out the ruffles with my hand and took the message.

"My uncle has a really crappy one," Roxanne said, pointing to Neeve. "His name's Pigwidgeon, he's small, but cute, and been's alive for an insanely long time. Of course, we don't use him anymore, Uncle Harry bought Uncle Ron a nice one." I gave a wan smile at her description and opened the lavish note. It was from my aunt, who had a taste for the lovely, so it had lavender scented paper and a wax seal.

In nice, long script from my aunt, the note said,

Here's some pocket money for the month. Enjoy. -Amadora.

Attached to the other leg was a small bag. I reached inside and came out with a fistful of Galleons. "There's an expanding charm on this," I said. "Thanks, Neeve." Neeve hooted and then snapped up some of my bacon. Spreading her wings, she flew off to the Owlery. She must really want to sleep.

"Pocket money?" Lexi asked. I nodded. "Your aunt seems like a nice lady, though forgetful. I think that it would be okay to live with her."

"She has headaches frequently," I replied curtly. My aunt was nice, true, but I didn't like to mention her.

"James is coming," Roxanne said. Unlike Lexi, she sympathized with me (for she knew how damned stubborn James was) and told me if James was coming, something that Lexi highly disliked. Roxanne gestured with her chin at the lanky boy working his way towards here.

"Ahh!"

"Why is Addie hiding under the table?" James asked.

Roxanne's feet shifted and I knew that she was giving him a smug smile. "Apparently (she put a heavy amount of sarcasm on apparently) she's tying her shoes."

Pause.

Five minutes passed.

I emerged, red-faced and scarlet, only to see that James was still there. "Erm, I've got to go change. Toby's going to pick me up any moment." James opened his mouth, and then closed it, his eyes hardening at the mention of Toby.

Oh yeah, did I mention? My Hogsmeade date was today.

I escaped to my chamber, where I pulled out likable clothing and examined them.

Tops-

Top #1 A light, sky blue that Lexi claims matches my eyes. It's a tank top, with a delicate white flower emblazoned at the sky, and hangs in ripples and shades.

Top #2 A purple top that fades to blue and pink in some areas that I like, but Roxanne thinks makes me look sallow. Because I don't want to look sallow, and it's too hot for the long sleeves, then I guess that I'll have to wear Top #1. Sigh. I liked this top.

Pants-

Pants #1 White skinny jeans

Pants #2 Blue skinny jeans.

I like the blue ones, but the white ones match better with my top. I guess that I'll wear Pants #1, I just have to be careful not to get it dirty.

Accessories-

This one was so easy that I nearly laughed when I chose it. I only have one necklace and it's perfect. It's on a silvery chain, with a crystal flower in the middle. Beautiful.

So, now that I chose the perfect stuff, I waited at the entrance to where we would leave for Hogsmeade and waited. And waited. I was one of the ten people there, but steadily more arrived until there were maybe a hundred. Toby came over to my side and gave me that brilliant smile that dazzled me so much. Only this time, it wasn't as dazzling.

"You look lovely," he said.

I blushed. "Thanks."

We went on the train and then entered Hogsmeade. He dragged me to the Three Broomsticks and proceeded to order some butterbeers for us.

"Oh, thanks," I said.

"You're welcome."

Some ragged old teenagers came up and clapped Toby on the back. "Hey!" they said. "We didn't know you were here! And who's your girlfriend?"

"We're on our first date," Toby said, with that smile again. It was a little strained.

"Wood, who are they?" I asked carefully.

"Nobody," Toby said in a stressed voice.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes."

I ground down the urge to growl 'Stop giving me monosyllable answers!' but I couldn't. I wouldn't. I mean, I've been (nearly) worshipping him for three years, and now, when I'm dating him, I want to yell at him.

Not a good urge.

While he was chatting with his friends, I sat down and took out a book and started to read, all the while grinding my teeth and thinking about a few ways that I'd like to disassemble him (which I am sure sounds very rude). Finally, his grungy friends went away and I snapped my book shut.

"Sorry about that," Toby said.

"Of course," I said with a little spite mixed into it. "Now, where were we?"

To my dismay, Toby started talking about Quidditch. Number 1), Quidditch had a Gryffindor team, the Gryffindor had a seeker and the seeker was named James. Number 2) Quidditch, though very exciting, was also getting dreary to talk about and Number 3) My top was getting uncomfortably itchy around the sleeves, though it would be vulgar to scratch it there.

"So, I was very shocked when I didn't make it on the Quidditch team, though I consoled myself that Keeper was not my think. Imagine my greater shock in third year when I tried out for Chaser and didn't make in. And in fourth year...well, fourth year was the worst. I fell off my broom."

"Th-that's awful," I said unconvincingly, though it seemed to convince him, who solemnly nodded. "Actually, I never tried out for anything in my whole life. I know how to ride a broomstick, but I'm not very comfortable in the air."

"I am," Toby said.

I tried to hide a snigger as I thought of the first time I saw him in the air. I was out, watching James try to be a seeker, and the Keepers came up. The Chasers scored every goal on Toby, who's main priority seemed to be holding onto the broom. 'Course, that would have been a little rude to mention, but I was sorely tempted.

"You have very charming friends," he said. "Roxanne and Lexi. I asked Lexi out before, but she declined for some reason." He shot me a dazzling smile. "Roxanne looks too tough, but you seemed gentle and kind. I wouldn't want to get on your bad side, thought. Heaven knows what you did to James, he looks like someone shoot him with a stunning curse and he just got revived." His voice took on a gloating tone.

I stifled a yawn. "Erm, what do you think about Finnegan?" I asked. "Nice, or what?"

"Or what," Toby snarled. "He gave me detention, the prat."

"Don't call him a prat!" I said, my voice rising.

"Okay!" he said. "I won't!" He looked genuinely afraid and I realized that I was standing up. Rosmerta was watching me curiously from the bar, and I sat down again. "Why don't we go," Toby said awkwardly. "Maybe to Zonkos or something."

"I don't think we can. We've talked away our time." I couldn't hide the tinge of disappointment in my voice.

"Well, we should do this again. I don't think I've had this much fun for ages." He gave me a smile, but this one wasn't dazzling, it was just pure happiness and I recognized the boy that I madly fell in love with all those years ago.
But still. "Yeah," I said dryly. "We should."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Finnus rise from his seat in the shadows.

I caught up with Finnus when he was leaving the bus and grabbed his arm. "What were you doing, spying on us like that?" I snapped. "Did James put you up to this?"

His eyes darted from side to side.

That was all the answer that I needed. "The interfering prat!" I growled. "I'll kill him. What were you going to tell him?"

Finnus clamped his mouth shut.

I drew my wand (which was, incidentally, rosewood with a unicorn's hair. Just thought you ought to know). "Since you're a Gryffindor," I said in a low voice, my wand not even quivering, "you'll know how talented I am in curses. Don't tempt me to practice one on you."

Finnus gave an exaggerated sigh. "Honestly, Addison. You have a way with words." He gave an easy grin. "Alright. All I was going to tell him was that you looked bored with Toby and even yelled at him."

My wand touched his Adam's apple. "Don't you dare. If you do and I hear a single word relating to it, I swear, you are not going to make it out of Hogwarts unblemished."

"Fine. Deal." Finnus rolled his eyes and flicked a strand of his curly short hair from his eyes. He stuck out his hand and we shook and I put my wand back into my wand sheath.

Two years ago, Roxanne had bought me a wand sheath. It was a thin sheath of leather to store my wand and knew that I was its owner. Therefore, it would only stick to me. Quite generous of her, once I think of it.

"The Quidditch Match is tomorrow," Finnus continued. "Do you want me to tell James that you'll be cheering for the Gryffindor team?"

I hesitated.

Finnus raised his eyes and gave another sneaky smile.

"Fine then," I said, feeling resigned. Finnus broke out into a bigger grin. "But don't tell James that it was meant for him, and also tell him that I'm cheering for the Gryffindor team, not for him. Got it? Good."

"Got it," Finnus said.

"Er, right then. I'll be going. And not a word."

Finnus clamped his mouth shut and gave me a wink.

"Lovely." With that, I ran for the Gryffindor common room.

Bloody hell, I hate Finnus and his overly smug smile and his false promises. If he tells anyone, I will murder him. MURDER him, you see?

No, scratch that. I hate James Sirius Potter.

Er, so yes. Today was Saturday (in their world) the day for Hogsmeade. This story is going pretty fast, actually. Tomorrow is going to be (drumroll please... :D) QUIDDITCH GAME! No, not the actually finale Quidditch game, but the one that decides which two teams are going to compete for the Quidditch Cup. Er...did I get that right? I dunno. So, REVIEW!