Bleeding Red and Gold Chapter 10
So, I felt sorry about that last chapter, as it was really quite terrible. So, I decided to update once again. Also, credit is given to wisebeyondyears for betaing that last chapter, despite the fact that I have yet to implement some of the ideas suggested to me.
So, I decided not to write a specific response to each anonymous review, since I got a couple that was like follows:
OMG, you made Neville and Daphne fall in love together? WTF? I hate Ron, and the idea of anything except Harry/Daphne is despicable. I'm out of this horrid story.
Now add a couple of cuss words into that review, and you have a pretty accurate idea of what I got. Well, that sucks, to be honest, but I feel obligated to respond to at least some parts of the review, despite the fact that it is probably a waste of time on my part.
So, you dislike Neville/Daphne huh? Well, news flash, they're not together. Did I state they were together? No. Did I ever put in my previous author's notes that you should NOT assume that Daphne is in a relationship with ANY guy until they formally admit it to each other? I put that in every author's note from like chapter 5 onwards or something, because I got so many people flaming about Ron/Daphne, even though all that's happened is a marriage contract, which as I understand, CAN be broken. So, for like the fifth time, DO NOT ASSUME that Daphne is in a relationship with ANY boy, girl, magical creature, etc. (just so we're absolutely clear) until they literally start calling each other girlfriend, boyfriend, or…elf-friend?
Okay, got that out of the way.
Important Information:
Updating might be slower for the next month, because I cannot get onto Fanfiction as my computer is finally getting replaced! Yay! But less chapters for you guys, which is also a bummer.
The timeline of this story is completely canon, that is to say, everything that happened in the books, happened in this storyline. It's just after Voldemort's fall that things start to change. I really hated Nineteen Years Later…
If any of you would like to suggest ANYTHING to this story, feel free to PM. If it is a good idea, I will credit you. I hope you guys do send me some ideas, as it always helps to write more than what this voice in my head is telling me to each time I start a chapter.
Enough of this Author's Note, enjoy Chapter 10!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Those wonderful stories were written by J.K. Rowling and not me. *Sob* This is for ENTERTAINMENT purposes only. Nothing is owned by me except for the idea and the chapters in THIS story.
oOo
Neville Longbottom entered the Gryffindor Common Room five minutes before curfew. His mind was still spinning, and he was still dreaming about the gorgeous girl who he had met on the staircase. She had even helped him out of the trip staircase, although she hadn't touched him, instead opting to magic him out of it. Neville had been disappointed; he wouldn't have minded being one of the only boys that Daphne Greengrass had willingly touched that did not occur under violent circumstances.
When he entered, he saw the Golden Trio look up. Neville liked Harry, and, like everyone else, idolized the Gryffindor Golden Boy for his defeat of Lord Voldemort. He was indifferent towards Ron, as he knew that Ron could be a loyal friend at times, and a right git at others. He had heard from Hermione what Ron had done during their time hunting Horcruxes across the country.
Hermione had begun to try and master Herbology, as she had already finished her mastery of Charms, Transfiguration, Arithmancy, and Ancient Runes. (A/N: By mastery, I mean like the equivalent of someone who is an expert in his/her field of study/research) Neville was flattered that Hermione would ask him for help, even though it was widely accepted throughout the school, even by Slytherins, that he was the best at Herbology, which obviously led to Slytherins claiming that subject was useless, and that most Slytherins had dropped the class after their OWL year.
During their studying time together, Neville had become close with Hermione, and had listened to quite a few descriptions of what it was like to be on the run with Harry, hunted by thousands of witches and wizards, whether or not they were Death Eaters or just greedy bastards who wanted the bounty that was sitting on Harry's head. He learned how much the hunt had strained their friendship, and yet it had also strengthened it as well, since the three were able to work through their differences like they had over the course of their school years at Hogwarts. Neville was shocked that Ron would just walk out on Harry after an argument. He felt that Ron had overreacted, and even though he did save Harry's life when he came back to them a couple of weeks alter, Neville still couldn't acceot the fact that somebody would ditch their friends in the wilderness just because of one disagreement and for a couple of creature comforts in a real house instead of a tent in the middle of nowhere surrounded by protection spells.
Ron stood up, leaving the trio, and walked towards Neville.
"Hey Neville, where have you been? You're usually here before all of us ever arrive."
"I got held up by the trip staircase again." Neville said, flushing with embarrassment.
"Oh, again? Neville, after eight years you still haven't memorized where all of them are?"
Neville shrugged off that comment. "I saw Daphne there."
Ron tensed. "Daphne? As in Daphne Greengrass?"
Neville nodded absentmindedly, his thoughts still centered on the girl who had smiled at HIM of all people.
Ron glared at him. "Did you hit on her?"
Neville was torn from his thoughts. "Whaa-"
"I asked, did you hit on her?"
Neville shook his head. "I just told her I liked her, and then we talked a bit."
"You admitted you like her?!"
"Yes, Ron, I like her. She seems to be an interesting enough person with something deep inside that is causing her to be this cold and distant from everyone except her friends."
"Did you know that she was betrothed to me?" Ron growled with barely controlled anger.
Neville shook his head, blatantly ignoring the fact that Ron was angry, as he was turning the "famous Weasley red"
"Well, she is, so keep away from her. She's going to be my wife, and I want her to be faithful."
Neville shook his head. "No, you can't control her life before she gets married to you. I can be with her for as long as I want, and we can do anything together. You can't control us."
Ron was "this" close to hexing Neville, when Harry spoke up quietly behind him.
"He's right, Ronald. You can't control who Daphne spends her time with, and who she likes. Hell, I wouldn't suggest trying to control her even after your marriage, because I really don't think you want to mess with that nasty Stinging Jinx of hers. I STILL fell pain whenever I sit down, and it's been almost three days already."
Ron suddenly laughed out loud.
Neville looked at him curiously, as Ron continued to laugh.
"You'll never get on her good side. Nobody does. Nobody is ever able to be even worthy of her attention other than that Slytherin friend of hers."
"Tracey Davis." Harry said quietly.
"Whatever" Ron said, "I'm going to bed."
As he headed for the stairs, Neville was sorely tempted to hit him with a Confundus charm so that he would accidentally take the staircase to the girls dormitories and get shot out by the staircase, but decided against it as Harry was standing right there.
Harry ran his hand through his hair, messing it up even further, as he spoke, "Sorry about that. I don't know what's gotten into him lately. He's gotten so paranoid over somebody stealing "his" Daphne that he flys into a rage whenever another boy even mentions her name. I hope this information doesn't get around to Daphne or Ron will never live through our meeting with her at Hogsmeade."
"Wait, you guys are meeting at Hogsmeade?"
"Yeah, to discuss the contract and to get to know each other better."
Harry sounded wistful, and Neville looked at him curiously. He was never really good at judging emotions, although he had one friend who was exceptional at it. Unfortunately, he couldn't just call on Luna Lovegood at that very moment to help him judge Harry's expression. Still, by the look of longing and sadness in Harry's eyes, Neville suspected that Harry also had a crush on Daphne just like him, and that Ron's overprotecting behavior was forcing him to keep quiet about it.
"Well, Neville, I've got to sleep, or else I'll be so tired tomorrow that I'll seem like a braindead zombie. Hermione always wakes us up at 8, and forces us to go to the library with her after breakfast. I can't believe she still hasn't given up on S.P.E.W. yet."
Neville paled. "I signed up for that too, but only to stop her from badgering me."
Harry laughed, "Good luck, mate. She'll be on your case after she finishes ruining my sleeping habits. She reminds me of Oliver a little too much sometimes."
oOo
The day dawned sunny and warm, and there was not a cloud in the sky. Daphne Greengrass sat up in her bed, and marveled at the fact that for the first time in a very long time, the girls dormitory of the Slythering Common Room was not cold. Normally, the Slytherin Common Room was always cold, and people suspected that there was some permanent freezing charm at the bottom of the lake, and the cold from the charm seeped into the Slytherin Common Room. Even during the spring, people wore sweaters and long pants in the Common Room, although they always made sure to change before going outside.
She shook Tracey awake, before heading into the bathroom to wash up and prepare for the day. As she took a shower, she planned out the day ahead. Having a plan for the day was perhaps the most important aspect of life for Daphne Greengrass, as it was the only way to enable her to allot her time so that she didn't have to spend too much time in the Common Room at one time, where all the Slytherin boys seemed to have nothing better to do than leer at her all the time. They always leered at her, and never any other girl, because of her prominent chest and long, stunning legs, amongst other "assets". Tracey was cute, but she was always by her side, and boys just seemed to find her more attractive every single time.
Daphne groaned as she remembered that today was the day in which she had to meet up with Weasley, Potter, and Granger in Hogsmeade to discuss the contract. She had already gotten permission from her Head of House, Professor Slughorn, to visit the village, although she kept the real reason for visiting a secret from him. She dressed, did her makeup, and sat on her bed, waiting for Tracey. When Tracey emerged, the two headed to the Great Hall for breakfast. On the way, however, they bumped into a ferocious Hermione Granger dragging a red-faced Ronald Weasley down the corridor. They were too busy with their conversation to notice them, which was a relief, as Daphne didn't want to spend anymore time than what was absolutely unavoidable with the Weasel.
"How many times has this happened before, Ron? You leave your homework until the last day, and then you can't get it done, and you rely on ME, who doesn't procrastinate and actually does work before the last day, to give you the answers. Now, you are going to stay in the Common Room and I will sit there with you and watch you do it. And I swear, if you even START talking about Quidditch or Daphne Greengrass I will never, EVER help you with your homework again."
Daphne and Tracey looked at each other.
"What now? Is there going to be no meeting?"
Tracey shrugged.
"We've got to find Potter and ask him." Daphne decided. She turned and strode off towards the Great Hall, Tracey jogging to keep up. Along the way, they passed Blaise Zabini, who was a bit preoccupied by the boils that were springing up on his face. Daphne wasn't surprised. Ever since he confessed all his secrets in the Common Room because of Tracey's mysterious object, he had been on the receiving end of quite a few nasty hexes. Daphne felt no pity for him. He was leading on her best friend.
"Densaugeo." Daphne thought in her head. A few seconds later, Blaise resembled a walrus with a very bad case of sunburn. Tracey smirked at her friend's act, and continued walking towards the Great Hall, where she saw a certain green-eyed wizard enter, followed by a couple of girls who were apparently part of the Harry Potter fan club that Ginny Weasley had started way back in their second year at Hogwarts.
oOo
I lied again. The meeting is not this chapter. I needed to find an excuse for Ron to get out of the meeting. Anyways, hope you enjoy this chapter. Also, does sunburn give you boils? I hope it does, or can someone suggest a better disease for me? Thanks.