Complicated
"Guys, stop talking about me as if I'm not here…besides, someone might hear you" Ginny whispered. Collin and Luna were debating on and on about Ginny and Harry's situation and apparently, Ginny wasn't liking where the talk was going to
"Come on, who could hear us, all of Hogwarts is practically stuffing themselves with dinner!" Collin said confidently. He then ran his hand through his hair making it messier
"Aren't we part of Hogwarts?" Luna smartly asked
"Yes, we are…I meant most of Hogwarts" Collin quickly defended
"Anyway guys, it's pointless. Lavender is practically on a search spree. She and her two minions have practically covered many rumors that Voldemort has of Harry" Ginny said as she brushed off lint from her robes
"Don't you dare bring that man in this. He almost got me never to come back to Hogwarts again. My parents were informed" Collin sadly said.
"Sorry…but don't you see? If I tell Harry, the next day, you'll be weeping in my funeral!" Ginny hissed
"You're over reacting, Gin! Besides, you made a promise! Its either you tell him by the end of the month or its dear brother who gets the honor of spilling the beans" Luna said.
"Whatever…lets just go" Ginny sighed
Unknown to them, a sneaky little gossiper was listening to their every word
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"Lavender…Lavender!" Padma was gasping for breath and very sweaty when she reached Lavender's comfy chair by the fire. Unlike Lavender, Padma looked unruly. Her hair was untidy, her robes were dirty and her papers were askew. Lavender looked at her disdainfully and just kept on filing her nails
"What?" Lavender harshly asked
"I know who the girl is!" Padma grinned with evil
Lavender immediately stood up. An action which earned a scowl from a 4th year student. Apparently, it wasn't only Lavender who fancied a warm evening
"Just move because I'm not going anywhere" Lavender coolly said and the guy stalked off
"Anyway, the girl is none other than Ron's sister, Ginny Weasley" Padma excitedly said
Padma had been expecting a sort of reward from Lavender. Or somewhat a smile for recognition. She had fantasized a "Padma, you're so smart" thing while running up the stairs. Instead, she got a cold hard slap on her face
"Ouch!" Padma screamed. She hadn't expected this. She felt her cheek and glared at Lavender
"You think this is a game? You think this is all a joke? It isn't, Patil! It is between me and my pride! So if you're going to joke around telling me lies about how the impossible happened, you can just get out of the way!" Lavender snarled. Her face was beginning to flush with anger just as Padma's face was tomato red from embarrassment
"Lavender, I am telling the truth" Padma persisted. Tears were brimming at her eyes
"Oh please! You and your good-for-nothing sister don't deserve to hang out with this goddess" Lavender coolly said as she gestured towards her perfect body
"But you need me! I need you" Padma said
"I think you need me more than I need you. Get out of my way and let me find suitable company. One who can take me seriously" Lavender coldly said
"I am taking you seriously…I know what's best for you…" Padma whispered
"So now you're like my mum or something…bloody hell get out of the way!" Lavender screamed. Some strands of glossy brown hair were beginning to take out of place
"No…I'm your friend…" Padma's voice faltered
Lavender laughed a cold mirthless laugh
"Did you actually think for one second of your life that I, Lavender Brown, would actually associate with a half breed Indian like you?" Lavender cruelly asked
"Yes…You hung out with me…" Padma persisted
"Well, did you actually think it over that, I don't know, maybe I'm just using you?" Lavender's voice was sarcastic and mocking
"Please Lavender; I'm down on my knees. Don't desert me!" Padma cried. She knelt down and grabbed onto the hem of Lavender's skirt
"Get off me!" Lavender's last words were cold and emotionless. Then, she confidently stalked out leaving Padma in tears
"No longer will I be bullied by the likes of her…I'm going against her…"
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"Wow…Lavender's just plain harsh!" Collin said to Ginny. Ginny had been watching the scene white-faced and nervous.
"I know…and I was almost blown away…" Ginny whispered
"What do you think we should do?" Collin asked
"She's a popular…revenge is their thing…we need her in our crew…if I want Harry to find out…safely" Ginny sighed
"WHAT?" Collin screamed
"It's the right thing to do…otherwise she'll just keep pestering Lavender and that would lead to suspicions" Ginny explained as she tied her hair in a ponytail
"Your right…when should we make up with Padma?" Collin asked
"What better time than now that she's alone in the common room other than us both?" Ginny looked as the last people left the Common Room either to sleep or get a late dinner or just stroll around for a few minutes
The two approached Padma and Ginny put a comforting hand upon her back
"You!" Padma screeched at Ginny as she looked up from the ground
"Padma…we can help you…we can bring her down" Collin quickly said
"You were the reason my friend abandoned me and left me in the unpopular group" Padma pointed at Ginny accusingly
"Tell me, Padma, what did I do? I went to a school function and danced like expected…what did I do?" Ginny mockingly asked
"You knew it was Potter!" Padma screamed
"It was a masquerade for Merlin's sake…I didn't know" Ginny softly said
"Are you sure you didn't?" Padma's strong voice slowly turned calm
"She didn't…she was with me and she kept yapping on who it was" Collin sighed
"Fine…you didn't know…but why didn't you tell Lavender it was the truth?" Padma persisted and Collin laughed
"You and Parvati were bent on killing the Cinderella. We're we supposed to admit?" Collin asked
"I suppose not…what did you say about bringing her down?" Padma asked
"To bring Lavender down from royalty in the Hogwarts Social Monarchy would mean I could tell Harry safely" Ginny said as she brushed off bits of lint from Padma's blouse
"That's impossible! She's got the whole male population at her back and most of the girls who are wannabes" Padma giggled
"That's why we need your help! You have access to Lavender's being and her schedule, you have some guys you could seduce just for information…we need a popular" Collin said
"The question is, would you let Queen Lavender take away your dignity?" Ginny asked
"No…I'm through with her bossing me around! She's not worth my attention! Beside, she'd be nothing without me and Parvati" Padma angrily said
"That's a fact…to get to the top, one must need friends" Collin said
"So, Padma Patil, are you with us? Would you help us bring Lavender down so I can have my happily ever after?" Ginny asked
Padma fell silent
"Well…?" Collin impatiently asked
"I've always believed in fairy tales and happy endings…" Padma started
"And…?" Ginny and Collin chorused
"Yes…I will" Padma loudly said
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Another update from yours truly, sassygirl93. How do you like this story so far?
Anyway, just to let you know, there will only be 4 more chappies in this story including the so-called Epilogue
I know…I'm excited too
Well, review! And if you review, I swear I'll give you hints on the next chapter!
That's a prize to my most faithful reviewers and I'll be checking if in this story, you've reviewed about 3 times. Because if you did, I'll be giving you excerpts from the next chapters