A.N.: Happy New Year everyone! YAY! 2007 is here and it's time to read my newest chapter! Now, as much as this sounds like promotion, you should know that since you're already here, there's no need to promote this chapter! So without further ado, here is Chapter 12 where... well you'll just have to read it, won't you?
Disclaimer: What? Of course I don't enjoy adding disclaimers because they are a source of my daily dose of randomness! Hey, ever go back to chapter one and read all the disclaimers? It's pretty entertaining.
"Hurry Mina!" yelled Dad, running ahead of me while I pulled my trunk and Arianell's cage along. She was hooting unhappily and trying to pick the lock. I kept having to give her treats through the bronze-coloured bars to keep her somewhat calm. "You're going to miss the train!" My vision blurred as my eyes watered from the cold wind. We ran through the barrier at five minutes to eleven, the red train engine whistling for the before-last time before its departure. I hurried over to the train, thankful it hadn't left yet. Harry had told me about what happened last year when him and Ron missed the Hogwarts Express and highjacked Mr. Weasley's car. I didn't want to be in the same situation. I dropped my luggage and leaned against it, trying to catch my breath. Dad was already there waiting for me, bent over and also out of breath from all that running. "I'm getting out of shape," he joked. "Ah, I see the Weasleys are arriving just now."
Sure enough, Mrs. Weasley, followed by her husband, was hovering loudly over her four children. "Don't forget to write often," she said. "And you two stay out of trouble, understand? Poor Mina was traumatized by your pranks, she isn't used to being picked on. Be her big brothers and watch over her, won't you dears?"
"Mother, I'll watch over her," replied Percy, shoulders back and nose up in the air. "I'll make sure to be an excellent role model."
"Thanks Percy, but no thanks. I'll be alright," I laughed. "Hi Mr. and Mrs. Weasley." The train let out its final warning. "Bye Mr. and Mrs. Weasley!" I laughed as I pulled my trunk towards the train. I hugged Dad and he wrapped his arms around me tight.
"Remember what we discussed," he whispered in my hair. "I love you pumpkin, stay safe."
"Me too, and I will," I choked, pulling away. "Keep me informed, I want to know everything,"
"In due time, Mina, but not right now," he waved. "Bye!"
"Bye!"
I boarded the train behind Ginny. I followed her, not knowing where we should sit. Soon we reached a compartment where the other Gryffindors in my year were chatting happily. I opened the door and stepped in. Dean and Seamus scooted on their seat to leave room for me, while Ginny sat next to Neville and Lavender.
"Where's Parvati?" I asked Lavender.
"With her twin sister Padma," she answered.
"I didn't know she had a sister," I said.
"Not many people do, they don't really look alike. Plus, Padma's not in Gryffindor," said Lavender.
"Are you wearing a Weasley sweater?" asked Neville in a small voice as I took off my coat. I glared at him then at Ginny, who had burst into a fit of giggles.
"Is that... Ron's Weasley sweater?" laughed Dean.
"It is! It's got an 'R' on it!" wheezed Lavender.
"Are you and Ron going out?" smirked Seamus.
"Of course not!" I screamed, becoming steadily angrier by the minute. "Not that Ron's a bad person, I just don't like him like that!" Ginny was slowly composing herself, but the broad grin could not be wiped from her face and the occasional giggle escaped her mouth.
"Then... why are you wearing his sweater?" asked Dean, confused. My face burned with embarrassment. I fiddled absentmindedly with a loose curl but frowned when I realized what I was doing. Again with the magical curls? What is going on? I really need to figure this out, I thought desperately.
"Mina spent New Year's at the Burrow," stated Ginny, in matter-of-fact kind of way. As if that explains anything, I sighed to myself. There was a general 'oh' of understanding and Ginny nodded.
"What prank did Fred and George play on you then?" asked Lavender.
"Huh?" was my intelligent response.
"Everyone here's been pranked at least once by those two at some point," explained Seamus. "Especially when you're a first or second year. Look at it like some kind of initiation or something."
"I must have been pranked at least a dozen times last year alone," whimpered Neville. "Why me?" Ginny patted his arm.
"The only person never to have been pranked is Hermione, but no one is stupid enough to even try," laughed Seamus.
"Hell no, if they even touched a single hair on her horrible bushy wig, she'd hex them into oblivion. She's so touchy, she's hard to bare," whined Lavender.
"Especially lately. Honestly, what is wrong with her?" said Dean.
"I dunno. Not enough homework?" guessed Neville.
"Probable them hormones finally starting to kick in," snickered Seamus. "I bet she's trying to find a way to fight them off."
"Get off her case, will you? She just happens to be really stressed out with all her schoolwork. She's bitten off more than she can chew," I defended.
"Right, we forgot about you," said Dean. Uh oh. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything. But Hermione's my friend, and they had no right to talk about her like that, I sighed.
"Go on, tell us about the prank," giggled Lavender. When I blatantly refused, Ginny proceeded with my public humiliation.
"...so now Mina's stuck wearing Ron's sweater with the sign on her back until Harry takes it off," she laughed.
"Which will be never," I said.
"Show it to us Mina," said Seamus, laughing. At this point, it couldn't get much worse, so I stood and began modelling the beautiful Weasley sweater and prank sign.
"Champlain, you've clearly got no class," sneered a cold voice behind me. "In love with Potter and wearing the Weasel's sweater? That's really low, even for a blood traitor like you."
I turned around only to be practically nose to nose with Malfoy. We glared at each other until I smiled unnervingly.
"Happy New Year's Draco Malfoy," I grinned. "How was your Christmas? Horrible, I hope. I don't think idiots like your family understand the concept of amazing. Looking at you is the number one proof." He grimaced and pulled out his wand.
"Shut up blood traitor," he growled.
"Let me think about that," I pondered dramatically. "No." I shoved past him and sat back down next to Dean. I began fiddling and playing with my wand. "What are you going to do about it?" Malfoy and his goons lunged forward but were pulled back abruptly.
"Look what we've got here lads," said Fred playfully, looming over the third year Slytherins even though him and George weren't all that tall. But they were intimidating, to say the least.
"Trash that needs taking out," continued George, eyes and face darker and much more serious than his companions.
"Please, allow us to rid you of this undesirable garbage," laughed Lee Jordan. Oliver Wood was smirking behind him.
Malfoy shook off George's hands, which immediately curled into fists. His jaw was clenched tight and his face set in determined anger. I'd heard about the Weasley anger (actually, I had experienced it a few times, being friends with Ron and Ginny). Well, it's more of how the Weasleys have awfully strong reactions to practically everything, but I was worried about George. He was taking this way too seriously.
The Slytherins immediately left and scattered, and I noticed Scarlett leaning on the compartment window. She turned and winked at me discreetly before following her friends, if you could call them that.
"How did you know they were here?" asked Ginny after she reassured her brothers and their friends we were alright.
"That quiet, cold Slytherin girl came and started banging on the door and making faces in the window," said Lee.
"You know, the one with the light skin and the dark brown eyes and hair," added Fred.
"Scarlett," said Oliver. "Her name's Scarlett Havok."
"Whatever," dismissed Fred. "So we get kinda ticked off so we get up to straighten her out and she runs away, still making rude faces."
"Then she stops here and what do we find? Her gang of idiots trying to pick a fight. Honestly, what was she thinking? Of course we were going to stop it."
"I'd almost say she knew we would stop it," frowned Oliver. "Maybe she wanted us to stop them."
"That's shite," said Seamus. "More like Malfoy was scared Mina'd rip them apart. You shoulda seen it mates, she had them on their toes. It was bloody hilarious, watching Malfoy get mad."
"So you were looking for trouble?" spat George, finally saying something.
"What?" I yelled back, indignant.
"You heard me!"
"Of course I wasn't looking for trouble! Well, I might have provoked him a little... but what does that matter to you? We all know Malfoy deserves it, and you and Fred are always pranking and hexing Slytherins!"
"That's different!" he bellowed, while Fred and Oliver tried to calm him down. I cowered in my seat as I felt a familiar prickling in my eyes. Ugh, what is wrong with him? If he doesn't calm down soon, I'm going to burst! And then I really won't talk to him. Ever. His three friends, along with everyone else in the compartment, seemed confused as to why George, a usually calm and easygoing fellow, was screaming at a friend. What happened to his big brother role? Is this what big brothers do? Now that I think about it, it's how Ron would act with Ginny, I thought to myself. But it's not how George would act towards Ginny.
"How is it different George Weasley?" I hissed at him. He shook off his friends' hands.
"Because one, we can take care of ourselves and two, you're just an out-of-control teen girl who's frustrated because she's got a pathetic crush on Harry Potter," he replied coldly. I gaped at him, trying to get his words to sink in without hurting me. It wasn't working. Ginny and Lavender gasped and Neville whimpered inaudibly from his corner. Dean and Seamus stopped snickering and looked nervously from me to George. I was bubbling with anger, betrayal, hurt and humiliation, but I couldn't find the right words to tell him how much he hurt me without actually getting up and kicking him where the sun doesn't shine very often. So I settled on taking out my wand and pointing it at him. His angry expression was gone, replaced like something close to regret, but he had said those words and there wasn't a way he could take them back. They kept repeating themselves in my head and there was nothing he could do now to make them go away. They'd just keep on stinging.
"I dare you to say it again, you uncaring, self-centered attention seeker!" I threatened, standing up to my full height, which wasn't very tall. The top of my head reached his nose. "Go on! Say it!" I screamed in rage. He stared at me blankly, but no word escaped his lips. He simply shook his head and left. I stood there in disbelief, staring at the spot he had been occupying. He just... left. Without a word. He didn't even apologize. Does that mean he really meant what he said? I thought. I slowly dropped back onto my seat and brought my knees up to my chest. I leaned against the compartment wall and realized I had shed tears when I had threatened George. I didn't bother to wipe them.
"We'd... better go check on him," said Fred uneasily, breaking the awful silence that had occupied the room after George left.
"Yeah," I spoke quietly. I shouldn't have threatened him. He's a friend, he never threatened me! But I did, and now I feel terrible.
At one, the kind trolley lady came by and I bought two Licorice Wands and a Cauldron Cake. Dean and Seamus, along with Neville, were finishing their homework and Ginny was quietly reading Witch Weekly with Lavender. Everyone was preoccupied with their own thing and I was no different. Under the guise of writing to my parents, I kept replaying my fight with George. I still couldn't believe I had actually raised my wand at him. It was like pointing a gun, that killing machine Muggles use, at him. I didn't care that Ginny said he deserved it after what he said. It doesn't matter if he deserved it. You feel awful so go apologize already, suggested a little voice in the back of my head. Besides, he's had nearly two whole hours to clear his head. Maybe he's come to his senses and wants to apologize too. Nodding to myself, I got up and opened the door. Once in the hallway, I realized I had no idea where he could be.
"Looking for something? Or someone?"
"Hey Scar. Yeah, I'm looking for someone, but I have no idea where to look first," I sighed. "It's amazing how you manage to just appear out of nowhere. Even on a train."
"It is quite a feat, I know," she laughed. "As for the someone, perhaps I can point you in the right direction."
"Uh huh," I said. "That'd be helpful. I'm looking for George Weasley."
"I thought that would be it. He's been walking around aimlessly since your fight, but I know where he is now," she replied. "I found their compartment before you and Draco shredded each other to pieces."
"So you were trying to stop the fight? Why not alert a responsible prefect instead of them?"
"Are you off your rocker? You'd both be in detention for a while. Besides, ever heard of a Slytherin snitching to a prefect?"
"No, I guess not. Oliver suspects what you were up to."
"Oh? That's a good thing though, right? I mean, not that I care or anything, but it's good that he suspects that I'm good, right?"
"Of course it is! That way, he knows you're not just some cold-hearted Slytherin, that you've got some... noble intentions in you."
"Noble intentions, yeah right. Anyway, that Weasley you're looking for is in the twelfth compartment from here," she said, pointing right. "I doubt you'll miss it, they're being rather loud."
"Thanks. I'll... talk to you later, I guess. We'll have to find a way to talk without being seen."
"I'll find a way. Oh, and for the record, you're right about the Weasleys. They aren't too bad," she smiled, as she headed the opposite way. I smiled to myself and began walking, counting the compartment doors as I tried to think of a proper apology. How about... sorry you're a jerk now apologize to me? Nah, that would only make things worse, I reasoned. Eventually, I stopped counting doors because I could hear the loud ruckus Scarlett was talking about. Sighing, I knocked bravely on the door, determined to get this whole fight behind me. The loud whatever was going on stopped and the door slid open with Lee, Fred, Oliver and George sitting peacefully. I suddenly became very shy and felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment. I looked at the floor.
"Hi," I muttered. I lifted my gaze to the interesting ceiling.
"Hello Mina. Wanna come in?" invited Oliver.
"Umm, no, that's ok. I was... hmm... just hoping to speak with George for a sec." I gathered whatever self-esteem, courage, bravery and whatnot I had left and looked him in the eye. He seemed surprised and he was half-smiling at me. I returned a half-smile. Fred nudged him and George got up to follow my into the hall. I took a deep breath and faced him. "Look, about earlier..."
"It's my fault. I'm sorry," he said, looking away from me.
"Well, you started it, yes, but I want to say I'm sorry for threatening you. I had no right to do that, no matter how much..." I hesitated.
"So I did hit a rather sensitive nerve then." He bit his lip and sighed. "I don't know what got over me. At first I was beyond angry Malfoy was there, then I... well, let's just say I shifted my anger on to you, and that was... not something I've ever done, or want to experience ever again. And I know you could take Malfoy, and Merlin knows I'd love nothing better than to see Malfoy get his arse kicked." He ruffled his hair. "I'm sorry about those things I said. I didn't mean to hurt you."
"I didn't think anyone would ever... manage to sting me with words so much. You hit my most sensitive nerves dead on." He made to put a hand on my shoulder, but withdrew it. I felt very numb inside and wanted nothing more than a comforting gesture.
"I know and I'm really, really sorry."
"Thanks. I am too." Awkward silence, I thought.
"Awkward silence," said George, voicing my thought. I laughed a little.
"I'm just in awe that you apologized. Hermione said that Weasleys never say they're sorry unless Mrs. Weasley tells them to."
"That's just Ron. Us Weasley men are very chivalrous," he said, bowing.
"Well, I'm glad," I laughed. Remembering the Licorice Wand I'd kept for him, I took it out and clumsily handed it to him. "Here. I was going to use it as a peace offering in case you didn't want to talk to me."
"Your would-have-been peace offering has been gratefully accepted by the ever-handsome George Weasley," he said. I laughed again, but soon fell silent. Again. Just as he opened his mouth to say something, he was interrupted by Oliver.
"Hey you two," he said. "Everything cool between you?"
"Yeah, really cool," George replied, not taking his eyes away from me. Whatever he had been about to say, he had decided against it. I shifted my gaze to the floor, uncomfortable. "Well, I'll see you around, Mina."
"Yeah, see you around," I waved as he left. "Had a good holiday Oliver?"
"It was pretty good. Me mum's kept busy by sorting out the offers from different Quidditch teams I got since I became of age a month ago."
"Good for you! Have you chosen one yet?"
"There's a really good offer from Puddlemore United I'm interested in, but they require and Acceptable in Potions O.W.L level, and all I got was a Dreadful, so I won't be able to take them up on it," he replied sadly.
"Isn't that why I'm your tutor?" I grinned.
"Well, that's why you were my tutor, yes."
"Aren't I still? Or have you replaced me?"
"You know no one else wanted to. I thought you'd given up though." He looked confused. Kinda like a puppy when you're trying to teach it to fetch and it's not working.
"I thought so too. But that wouldn't be very... oh, how shall I put it? It wouldn't be owning up to that Gryffindor courage I've heard so much about if I just gave up. Besides, Scar still needs tutoring."
"So... that means you'll still tutor me?"
"Yeah, of course! Now I know you're not very fond of Scar, but..."
"No, no, it's alright. Scarlett's not a bad person, so I get it. I'm just grateful you haven't given up on me."
"I guess I have some of that Gryffindor courage after all. I'll be in touch about when our next session will be. I'll get Harry to give me the Quidditch schedule."
"Thanks! I owe you big time."
"That you do. And don't think I'll forget it!"
"I didn't think so. If you don't mind me asking, what's with the Weasley sweater?"
"Ask Fred and George, they'll gladly fill you in," I said as I turned to head back to my compartment. "And yes, I know there's a sign on my back."
The train slowed at the Hogsmeade station just as I finished planning the second tutoring session with Scarlett and Oliver. I packed all my parchment into my bag and grabbed my trunk and loyal owl's cage. The Thestral-pulled carriages were waiting peacefully to bring the tired Hogwarts students up to the castle. Those things were so skinny it was disgusting. Curiosity killed the cat, but not the careful witch, I told myself. Why can I see them when I haven't seen anyone die? Checking to see if anyone was around, I softly dropped my luggage and approached the black creatures. Arianell hooted indignantly, not wanting to be left behind. The closest Thestral turned its dragon-like head towards me and our eyes locked together. It batted its wings without taking its eyes off me. It looked at me with such intensity I felt threatened so I took a step back. It shifted its eyes to the pocket where sat my wand and it did something I hadn't expected it to: it bended its knees and bowed to me. Completely freaked out, I hurried back to my luggage and waited for Ginny impatiently. When she finally spotted me, I waved to her and Luna, who was chatting with her, but Ginny seemed a little annoyed by the incessant chatter. Neville joined us too, which was a good thing, seeing as each carriage carried four students and we were only three. I wouldn't want to have some idiot I didn't know sitting with us.
"Well, I've got this carriage reserved. Shall we get going?" I suggested. We stepped into the dark carriage and I sat next to Neville. As I talked with him about the holidays and classes, I felt Luna's stare burning holes in my head. Eventually I had enough. I was emotionally drained. "Do you have something against my nose?"
"You have a lovely nose. I like the fact that it's not flat, but nice and pointy. And there's no bump on it either, I like that it's straight. But I wasn't really looking at your nose. I was looking at your face as a whole," she replied softly in her strange voice. I raised my eyes at her blunt honesty.
"Why were you doing that?" I sighed.
"I saw you with the Thestral," she said dreamily. "Interesting reaction. Hagrid told me he had trained them, but I didn't know they bowed like that. I was merely pondering on what caused it to do that."
"What's a Thestral?" Ginny asked, clearly confused as to what we were discussing. Neville kept unusually quiet.
"They pull the carriages," explained Luna. Ginny looked from me to Luna. Knowing Luna's knack for believing in strange creatures, I doubted Ginny even believed her. I came to Luna's rescue.
"They're rather depressing beasts. Trust me, you don't want to be able to see them," I said, not wanting to be the one to explain the nature of Thestrals to her. She simply rolled her eyes, not believing a word we were saying.
"Perhaps it is because of the Connection that you hold in your nature," pondered Luna.
"Maybe. I think it's because of my wand," I sighed. "Its magical component is... unusual." Phew, that was close. I think it's probably best if I tried not to publicize what that magical item is, I thought.
We stayed quiet for the rest of the short trip to the castle. As I made my way to the castle steps, each Thestral turned its head in my direction, so I picked up the pace, severely freaked out. I decided I had to figure all this out and fast. I headed for the Great Hall, where I hoped to find Ron, Hermione and Harry at supper so I could eat with them. Luck has finally taken my side, I smiled to myself as I spotted them at the Gryffindor table. But my luck wasn't enough to have them sitting with each other. So I hurried over to Hermione, grabbed her arm and brought her to sit with Ron, Harry and me.
"Hey! Happy New Year!" I greeted them. "Now I don't care about all this business about the Firebolt, I'm hungry and missed all three of you over the break. We can discuss the broom issue later." After a long silence, Harry and Ron thanked me for the candy I bought them for Christmas, which brought forth a nudge and glare from Hermione.
"Why didn't you send him the pictures?" she whispered angrily.
"I'll tell you later," I sighed quietly to her. "By the way, Harry, this watch is amazing! Where did you get it?"
"I got it in Hogsmeade right before Christmas break. When I... you know... forgot," he said sheepishly. "I really didn't think about it, Mina. When the twins gave me the map and a way into Hogsmeade, I... well, it's that... I... I was just really excited that I didn't have to stay behind." Ron and Hermione remained quiet, which I was thankful for. I had to think this over. He seemed sorry enough, more even, and after all, I'd had two weeks to just forget about it. I sighed. There's nothing I more can really do. I've got to trust that he's really sorry and that he knows it really hurt to be left behind. I don't want to ruin our friendship and... well, maybe more than that.
"Yeah, I know it's hard to have to stay behind," I mumbled sadly.
"I just want you to know that... well, that I didn't want to hurt your feelings," he said.
"Well, at least you listen to Hermione at any point," I laughed softly. Harry looked away and Hermione blushed slightly. I laughed a little harder. "Guess I was right."
"Mum owled me and told me you were at the Burrow for New Year's," said Ron conversationally.
"Aren't you hot in your coat, Mina?" asked Hermione.
"Yeah, Mina, aren't you hot in your coat?" laughed Fred and Ginny from a little further down. George was trying to hide his laughter.
"Laugh all you want," I said to them. George burst out in hearty laughter.
"So you were the butt of their joke this year?" said Ron.
"You know it," I muttered. "But this time, three of us kinda got dragged into it."
"Three of... us?" said Ron, horrified. "I wasn't even home this time!"
"Miss Champlain, why are you not wearing your obligatory uniform?" sneered Snape from behind me.
"Professor, I would but I..." I started to explain but Snape lifted his hand sharply to interrupt me.
"Detention to be scheduled. And ten points from Gryffindor!"
"Professor, at least let her explain!" said Harry loudly. "She probably has a good reason!"
"Potter, I'll have no disrespect from you, am I clear? You may join your precious Miss Champlain in detention." My face glowed red from anger and from the terrible heat in the Great Hall, but I wanted to get Harry alone to show him the prank sign and get him to get it off.
"Mina, you've got to take that coat off! You're burning up," said Hermione, concerned.
"Look, I'll take it off in the common room, but not here."
"It's got to do with the prank, doesn't it? And who does it concern?" asked Harry.
"Well... you, me and Ron. But if we plan correctly, no one else will know. Other than most of Gryffindor and some Slytherins that already know."
"How come some Slytherins know?" asked Ron.
"Because they saw it on the train when I was showing it off to Seamus, Dean, Lavender and Neville." I proceeded to telling them the whole story, omitting the bad fight with George that I would discuss with Hermione later and Scarlett's part in it. That was staying with me.
"Wow. That's one big soap opera," said Hermione. Ron looked at her oddly. "It's a Muggle thing."
"Whatever. Let's head to the common room and get this all done and over with," said Harry. We hurried up to the Gryffindor portrait and gave the password. Inside, only a few first years were sitting by the fireplace.
"They stole our usual spot!" said Ron.
"Who cares Ron? We need a corner where no one will notice us anyway," said Hermione.
"No need to get touchy," grumbled Ron.
Harry and Ron sat down at the table while I stood with Hermione pacing around me like I was some sort of puzzle.
"Look, I know how to get this over with, it's just... embarrassing," I said.
"Oh. Well in that case, please, enlighten us," answered Hermione.
"Ok. Well, I slept over at the Burrow, as you know, but it wasn't planned, so I didn't have a change of clothes. Nothing Ginny had fit me, so she... let me borrow one of Ron's old Weasley sweaters." Ron gasped and muttered under his breath that he was going to hunt his sister down. "Anyway, then when I was about to leave, George somehow stuck a sign on my back that can only be taken off by the person who's name is on it. Which is why I'm still wearing Ron's sweater. But the main reason I'm still wearing my coat is the sign." I took off my coat and with a deep, somewhat reassuring breath, I turned and let them see the bright purple letters.
"So I just have to take it off?" asked Harry. "That doesn't sound too bad."
"Easy for you to say. I had to walk around for nearly five days with this embarrassing sign on my back, not to mention this hideous- I mean... oh shut up Ron, you know it's ugly- sweater, that everyone seems to know was hand-knitted by Mrs. Weasley. Trust me when I say practically all of Diagon Alley has seen me like this, so I would appreciate it if you could take it off as soon as possible. I've suffered enough ridicule to last me for a long time."
"Yeah, sure," said Harry. "I bet they were hoping that we wouldn't be speaking after I... you know... forgot."
"Look, I forgive you, so don't worry about it," I said to him, placing my hand on his shoulder. He looked up at me and smiled his contagious smile. I smiled back, wondering if it would be completely weird for me to bring my hand down and take his. I shook my head. Woah, get those hormones under control, sweetheart, I scolded myself. Maybe you should talk your... urges over with him first. Make sure he's on the same page, you know?
"Alright, let's see Gred and Forge's master piece then," said Ron, clapping his hands together.
"Gred and Forge?" I asked, confused.
"Some joke they made about their Weasley sweaters. You know, the 'F' and the 'G'? They said something like, 'We know very well we're named Gred and Forge'. It was funny."
"Right," I said, taking my coat off.
"Well, you definitely rock the sweater," laughed Ron.
"Thanks, but you're getting this back after," I replied.
"Nah, keep it, it doesn't fit me anymore. Anyway, it fits you and it's really comfy," he dismissed.
"Why thank you, I'll treasure it forever and ever." I rolled my eyes at him. "Now, if Harry would do his part and get this," I paused, "masterpiece off, I'll finally be able to change into my own clothes. And take a shower! I've been taking bathes for a week." Harry got up and instead of walking around me or letting me turn around, he reached around me with his right hand and grabbed the sign that I'd been tugging at for days without any trouble. What really confused me though, and made my blood race, was when he didn't pull his arm away and kept staring at me. I couldn't tear my eyes away from his and I didn't want him to leave me. Even if he wasn't really touching my waist, I could feel his warmth. Saying it wasn't uncomfortable was the least I could say. I think the worse part, though, was when he stepped back and took his warmth with him.
"Well, I guess we'd better get to bed," said Hermione, pulling me back to reality.
"Yeah, I'm really tired," I added. "We'll see you guys tomorrow morning then."
"Goodnight," called Ron. "Harry, up for a game of chess?"
"Sure," said Harry, smiling. "Goodnight Mina. And you too, Hermione."
"Thanks Harry." She rolled her eyes. "Goodnight! And don't stay up too late."
"Yes, ma'am," said Ron.
I followed Hermione up to the girls' dorm to tell her about the train. All of it. But first, a shower was scheduled. Merlin, how I want to take a shower, I thought lazily, smiling at the chance happening of Harry's proximity. I couldn't stop playing the scene in my head. The way his eyes had shifted from my eyes to my lips like he was going to kiss me. I sighed happily.
"Harry got pretty close to you, didn't he?" nudged Hermione once upstairs. I made sure neither Parvati nor Lavender was around. Those girls loved to gossip too much.
"Yes he did," I giggled, plopping down on my four poster bed.
"I'd even say he wanted to... how do Parvati and Lavender say it? Get cozy with you," she grinned.
"I hope he does, Hermione," I said. "I mean, I get butterflies every time I see him and when he's not around, it's just... not the same. Do you know what I mean? It's more than a friends thing."
"I think I know what you mean... sort of," she whispered, looking away. I sat up quickly and felt a little dizzy, but I shook it off. Hermione's got a crush? Interesting. But then again, why wouldn't she? She is a girl, I thought.
"Really? Who?"
"Well, I don't want to say anything, just in case it turns out to be... nothing. But I promise to tell you all about it. It's not like I can talk about these things with Harry and Ron. Sometimes it's like they don't even see I'm a girl."
"What about Ginny? You two seem close."
"You become well acquainted with the only other decent girl fairly quickly, you know. She's a good girl, and I like her, but she's a year younger and she's already very concerned about her image. We're very different. I know she could do so well in her schoolwork, but she just works hard on how she looks."
"Hermione, do you think Ginny will hate me if anything does happen? Between Harry and me? If anything does happen, that is." She stayed quiet then bit her lip. She's hesitating, I thought miserably. I know Ginny and me aren't close, but I don't want her to hate me. That would put a hole between our families. Hermione seemed to come to a decision as she straightened out her posture.
"You want to know what I think?"
"Duh! It's why I asked you in the first place!"
"There's no need to get sarcastic. Anyway, I think you shouldn't worry about Ginny. She might be hurt if she doesn't know you like Harry in that way, though. So first step would be to tell her."
"I did that already, when I slept over at the Burrow."
"Oh good! That way, she can't blame you, because she knows. Either way, I keep telling her she needs to loosen up around him." I got up and stretched. I felt totally relaxed and it felt good.
"Well, I'm gonna go take a shower. I've been aching for one," I laughed.
"Alright. Have you done all your schoolwork?"
"Yes I have, although I'm not entirely sure if I got those Charms exercises right." I gave her the best puppy eyed look I could manage.
"Let me re-read it, I'm sure it can't be too bad," she sighed, a little smile tugging at her lips. "Can't be worse than Ron's."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I hugged her and grabbed my shower things. "I'll be back in less time than it takes for Harry to catch a Snitch." I hurried over to my bag and handed her my Charms work. "You wouldn't mind also looking at my History of Magic essay? I normally take good notes, but I must've gotten distracted because I'm missing an entire section in the goblin revolution." She sighed even louder but smiled.
"It's somewhat revolting, but I love looking over your work. It's flattering, really. But don't tell Ron and Harry! I don't want them to know I enjoy looking over their work as well. Although your work is normally of much better quality and effort."
"My lips are sealed. Be back in a minute!"
I left her with a heap of parchment rolls to look over. I felt kind of bad for making her correct my work, but seeing as she enjoyed it, I wouldn't dare take that away from her. I crossed the hall into the washrooms. I chose a shower, turned it on and undressed rapidly. I stepped into the hot water and took my time getting clean. I scrubbed my skin and washed my long hair. If there was one thing I was entirely satisfied with, it was my hair. I loved feeling it brush against my back. I loved when it was windy and it would get blown back. I turned the shower off and grabbed my towel. I stepped out and wiped the foggy mirror. I liked my eyebrows too, with their mountain peaks. I got those from Dad. My nose was straight, thankfully never broken. I didn't have high cheekbones and my mouth was small. My teeth were straight, something not uncommon in the Wizarding world. Mom used a spell once all my teeth grew in to make it so. I suspected Mrs. Weasley used it on her children as well.
Either way, that day I was satisfied with my looks. Perhaps you are a little on the big side, but who wants to be stick thin anyway? You're a healthy girl, that's what. Overdeveloped for your age though, that little voice told me. I brushed my hair and quickly placed it in a bun, hoping that once it dried, it would have that natural wave I really liked. I bet there's lots of beauty spells you could try out. You should ask Ginny about it, I'm sure she knows, continued that voice. It was getting rather annoying. I put my pyjamas on and joined Hermione back in our room. Parvati and Lavender were back and were still gossiping.
"There you are, Mina! We've been trying to get Hermione to tell us, but she won't say a word," giggled Lavender.
"By the way, awesome job on taunting Malfoy. I heard all about it," gushed Parvati.
"Anyway, so I hear you're really close to Oliver Wood," continued Lavender.
"So we hear," corrected Parvati.
"Whatever," I sighed. "What's your point?"
"We want to know how close you really are to him."
"Cozy close or just-friends close?" My jaw dropped to the floor. What kind of rumours have been spreading? Oh no! What if Harry hears about them?
"Why? What did you hear?"
"Oh my goodness! So it's true!" gasped Parvati.
"She's reacting like she's got something to hide!" nodded Lavender, excitedly.
"Hey! Hey! There is nothing going on between Oliver Wood and me!" I said.
"Then why is he always talking with you?"
"It's not like you're a Quidditch player or anything like that."
"Look, it doesn't concern you two, so just drop it, ok?" I said.
"Someone's touchy," grumbled Lavender.
"Anyway, we just want you to know we totally support your decision to crush on Oliver Wood. He's too dreamy," sighed Parvati.
"Right. We're just friends, ok? Get it in your heads."
"So if you're just friends, does that mean he's eligible?"
"I would love to get my hands on that..."
"OK! Enough!" yelled out Hermione, who'd been making subtle gagging until now. "Before I gag for real," she whispered to me. I giggled. Either way, I don't think he'd be interested in either of them. I've got a feeling he's set his eyes for a certain out-of-reach Slytherin.