It's my birthday! Yeah, another year for me! So, reviews would be wonderful presents...(Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.)

Anyway, yes, I did get the title idea from the angst-filled confessions of Georgia Nicholson. (Gotta love that girl.) Not sure a wrote it right, though.

My LOVELY reviewer of chapter eight:

d112hpfan

smartykat

Lala girl in lala land

Love you guys! Keep reviewing, please.

Enjoy!


Chapter Nine: Dragon-a-gogo-land

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For the next few days, the students of Hogwarts talked of nothing but the 'attempted murder' as Ron put it. Marley, on the other hand, had bigger things to worry about. She wondered if those Slytherins were just talking big to scare her, or actually would kill her and her mother if they got the chance.

Fred had noticed her worried expression more than once, and tried to get her to talk. Marley, being stubborn and scared that he would be dragged in it too, said it was just lack of sleep. He was skeptical, but gave up, knowing if Marley didn't tell him the first time, she never would.

Marley, actually, wasn't lying when she said it was lack of sleep. She hadn't been getting much sleep at all; thinking about what the Slytherin seventh years would do to her if they got a chance. She knew, from Fred and George, that most Slytherins did have close connections with real Death Eaters.

She was determined to stay away from them at all costs, to protect her mother. Thinking this, Marley felt better, and began to sleep more easily. At the same time, things at Hogwarts seemed to settle down as well.

The rumors about Sirius Black had all gotten old, for everyone had already heard them. Schoolwork was getting worse for fifth years, too. O.W.L.s were right around the corner. Fred and George seemed to be one of the only fifth years free of worry, never having cared about their grades.

To Marley's immense annoyance, they had taken to bothering her instead of studying. Right now, Marley was hiding in her dorm, trying to get some work done. She had made a nice little desk out of her trunk for the time being, putting ink and paper next to her on the floor.

Amanda, who walked in dreamily, interrupted her. "Oooh, Georgie is such a good snogger," she gushed flopping down on her bed.

Marley rolled her eyes. "I'll take your word for it."

Amanda, not one to take a hint, continued, " Did you know? Just the other day, he took me to Hogsmead and bought me anything I wanted from Honeydukes! (A/N: Not sure I spelled that right.) Isn't that sweet of my little Georgie?"

"Very."

"Oh, and this one time he chose me over doing a prank with his friends! He is such a gentleman, too! He always opens doors for me, buys me lunch in Hogsmead, gets me sweets…" Amanda went on listing all the things her 'little Georgie' had done for her on her fingers.

Marley ground her teeth. This was worse than Fred poking her in the arm every time she blinked, for crying out loud!

"Amanda? Not to be rude, but I really, really have to work on this." Marley pointed to her half filled parchment to emphasize her point.

"Oh, that reminds me! He once helped me with my homework! Did he help Alicia with her homework?"

Marley recognized this as a very dangerous question. "Um," she tried to pick her words carefully, "I'm not sure. You'll have to ask George." Amanda looked a little disappointed with the answer, but didn't say anything.

"Well, it's been nice chatting with you, but I have things to attend to," Marley sighed, packing up her makeshift desk.

"Oh, okay! Say hi to Georgie if you see him," replied Amanda happily. Marley nodded and left the dormitory, heading down the stairs.

Marley felt bad for Amanda. She hadn't done anything wrong, and all George was doing for her was just to make Alicia jealous. It wasn't right.

Not that Marley liked Amanda that much, but it didn't mean Marley liked what George was doing Amanda.

Marley, now in the common room, scanned the room for George. He was sitting in the corner chair, his hair messed up as if someone had been running her hands through it. Someone probably had been, thought Marley, heading toward him.

George looked up as Marley approached him scowling. He hadn't been very nice to her since she had taken Alicia's side of their battle. "Can I help you?"

Suddenly, Marley felt angry. He had no right to be rude to her, or even be mad at her. "I want to talk to you about Amanda."

George rolled his eyes. "If you're trying to tell me that I should be with Alicia instead, give up. Everyone's already tried."

Marley's hands balled into fists. "No, I have no intention of telling you who to date. However, I want you to stop leading Amanda on."

George blinked. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"You're just going out with Amanda to make Alicia jealous, and it's not right. You're going to hurt Amanda," Marley said, trying to reason with him.

"Since when have you cared about Silverstone? Have you to become best friends or something?" He tone was harsh and sarcastic. She had never seen this side of George before.

"No, but you're my friend, George. And I don't want you acting like someone you aren't." George stood up suddenly, but Marley stayed where she was.

"Are you saying I'm putting on the act to make Alicia like me?" His tone was dangerous, and if Marley wasn't so angry she would've been scared.

"Yes, I'm saying that you should stop being such a jackass! You should forgive Fred for whatever he did to you, and you should stop using Amanda to make Alicia jealous. Most of all, you should start acting like yourself again," Marley shouted, making all heads turn toward the two of them.

"Are you done, because I have places to be," George said coldly, his face expressionless. "And don't tell me how to live my life, Bennett. You might have Fred wrapped around your little finger, but I have more sense then that." He pushed past Marley and exited the silent common room.

She felt tears form in her eyes, but refused to cry in front of all those people. Marley walked calmly to her dormitory, meeting Amanda at the foot of the stairs. She looked ready to cry too.

"I heard what you said. Thank you, Marley." Amanda leaned forward and hugged Marley. "I have to talk to George." As Amanda walked away, Marley noted that she said 'George', not 'Georgie'.

What exactly happened with Amanda and George, Marley never knew. She did know however, that Amanda had broken up with George, and talked some sense into him as well.

To Marley's delight, Fred and George were once again talking to one another, and already planning their next prank. Alicia and George were still on thin ice with each other, but neither had any intentions of starting another fight.

To make moods even better, McGonagall had announced in Transfiguration that the fifth through seventh years of Hogwarts would be taking a trip to Romania after winter break. She had handed out papers for their parents to sign, and lists of what to bring.

There was also a map included in the package. Apparently, because Marley's map reading skills were not exactly up to snuff, there were three major cabins in the camp: one for the girls, the boys, and one for the teachers and instructors.

Fred had told her, with much excitement, that his brother, Charlie, would be one of the assigned instructors. He had also invited her to stay with him during break, but Marley politely declined. Her mother already had plans for Marley to meet the new 'boyfriend'.

Since it was early December, mistletoe had been hung for unsuspecting victims. Fred and George had also had their share of mistletoe fun, making sure it followed Crabbe and Goyle where ever they went. Not to mention McGonagall and Dumbledore, even though that had been Marley's idea.

Two days before students went home for the holidays, Katie, Angelina, Oliver, Alicia, Marley, Fred, George, and Lee all sat in front of the fire. Marley, Fred, and George all fitting on one couch, while Katie, Alicia, and Angelina shared another. Oliver and Lee came to rest on the floor, in the middle of an intense game of exploding snap.

"Any plans for the holidays?" asked Katie.

"I'm going skiing with my parents," replied Angelina, raising her hand.

"Nothing," added Alicia, sighing dramatically. The others nodded sympathetically.

Fred and George said that their brothers, Bill and Charlie, were coming home for Christmas, receiving many commands to deliver holiday greetings to them, mostly from the girls.

Oliver said he was going to Ireland to visit his grandparents, and Marley did her part by informing the others of her painful fate.

Katie was just about to add her part when-

"Oliver, don't look up know…" Fred pointed up, grinning like a madman. Oliver looked up, and so did Katie, to find mistletoe between them.

"You know what that means," sand George, poking Oliver in the back of the head.

Katie and Oliver had both turned impressive shades of red, giving Ron a run for his money.

"Kiss, kiss, kiss," Lee started a chant, and the others joined in, knowing that this moment was long overdo.

Finally, Oliver and Katie's lips met, and their friends whooped and whistled, with the occasional wolf-whistle.

Then, to the surprise of all, McGonagall entered the common room, looking a little pale.

She beckoned Marley out into the hall, her mouth set in a grim line.

"Professor, what is it?" asked Marley, confused.

"I'm sorry, Miss Bennett, but your home has been attacked by Death Eaters. Your mother is dead."

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