Chapter 10
The following weeks passed extremely slowly for Karina. Classes were a drag and everybody was treating her differently, like any word they say she would go in to some kind of break down. This treatment was excepting her friends, of course. They had all been through pain, but they all swore to never think, or act differently towards each other.
One day, at Defence Against the Dark Arts, Karina had had enough. She was so sick of the whispers and gasps as she walked past people every single day. Before Umbridge began talking, Karina stood up on a table and yelled for everybody's undivided attention. "Hey! Shut up!" She began, with eyes right on her, "I swear to God, if I see one more. ONE MORE, of those damn looks you guys give me, I will cause you immense physical pain." She couldn't help but flinch at the three words, seeing as that's exactly what she felt. But the message had to go through somehow. "It was one night, a long night, sure. But I am still me. Got it? Damn Hufflepuffs, why don't you just go back to fearing me again? I am still Karina Lopez," she said her name like teaching a group of kindergarteners, "I did not come back with a disfigured face. So stop looking at me like that, or shit will go down. Okay I'm done." Karina stepped down and smiled innocently. Everybody did seem to take the message afar, because by the end of the day, everything was almost back to normal.
Hand in hand, George was taking Karina to a surprise outing. "Can't you just tell me?" Karina asked as sweetly as she could manage. George laughed, "That won't work on me this time, my potato. No, I won't tell you. I thought that was the point of a surprise." He kissed her and they stopped for a moment. She broke away, "To think I was okay with dying." "That's not funny, Karina. Don't say that." His lips were in a hard line. She apologised and kissed him again, he kissed her back, which she took as an accepted apology.
In the distance, Karina saw the boat house. "Oh my. Sorry, George, but today is not the day I would like to run away. Although I'd love it." She laughed. "You silly potato! We aren't going anywhere, I set up a picnic. And we will watch the sunset, and then I'll kiss you under the gorgeous sky..." He smiled. "Hey, I thought this was all a surprise. Ruiner." And she took off, running towards the boat house. It had taken a couple of weeks to get Karina's full energy back, after what had happened. But that day, was the most alive she had ever felt. "Last one there is a rotten potato. And I'm telling you, it won't be me!" Karina yelled as she ran. George quickly caught up to her, picking her up from the ground while they laughed and laughed. They were about 100 metres from the edge of the boathouse, and Karina could see, on the patch of dark green grass that was beside the boat house, a pretty, colourful picnic set up. They walked slowly towards it and Karina absolutely loved it. "Aw, George! You shouldn't have. This is so..." "Wait." He said. "THE BREAD IS HALF EATEN." He yelled. Karina laughed, "There must be someone around here, come on let's go check who ate the bread." She said in purposely filled exaggerated tone. George took her hand and they walked towards the boat house. As they got closer they began to hear odd noises coming from inside the house. Both Karina and George got confused looks on their faces, as they got closer.
When they were at the corner they heard a voice, that was a girls. "Ron..." she sighed. George looked at Karina with wide eyes and they both jumped from around the corner and screamed with fear to what they were seeing. "Sweet holy mother of God! OH MY GOD." Karina yelled, just as George quickly clasped his hand over eyes, closing his own. "Ron? What the bloody hell? YOU EAT OUR BREAD. AND COME HERE..." George yelled. "I had no idea you guys would be here! I'm sorry!" Ron exclaimed. "No you're not." Karina said simply, "have you got something covering yourselves?" she asked. "Yes..." Leanne muttered with embarrassment. Karina and George opened their eyes slowly. George gagged once he saw his half naked brother. "This. This. Just ruined everything. Unbelievable." George said, throwing his arms in the air. Karina giggled. "I can't even look at you right now." She said, looking away. George had his back turned and said, "I am going to go. We are going to go. And take the damn picnic with me. Actually no. I'll leave that here. God knows what you did to our picnic." "Seriously? In the boat house?" All was Karina said. "Shut up!" Leanne said, stomping her foot. The memory of what they say washed through George's and Karina's mind again. "Ew! I can't believe I witnessed that."Karina said, "Okay bye guys." Karina took George's hand and they ran out of there, like they had seen a ghost. Back on main grounds, George broke out into laughter. "I thought you were angry...or disgusted." Karina said, feeling confused. "Oh trust me, I am. That was my brother. Not the best sight. But," he paused to laugh, "His face when we ran in." His face grew serious. "I can't look at him the same. For a long time." "So much for our surprise." "Some other time, I promise. But tonight, I'll sneak some food from dinner while everybody eats and we'll have our picnic in my dorm." He said, smiling.
"Where were you last night?" Draco asked Karina. "Me and George had dinner in his dorm. Whoa, don't give me that look. That didn't happen, Blaise. Jesus. We were too scarred."She answered. Draco and Blaise broke out into a girlish giggle, knowing what Karina and George had seen the day before. They swore not to tell anyone. Jaimee walked past the Slytherin table, and looked at Blaise apologetically. She turned her back and made her way towards Luna. "What was that?" Karina said, eyebrows raised. "I'm not talking to her." He said. "What? Just like that?" Draco asked. "No. She was on their side. I don't care if she turned good last second. Shut it, Karina. I am mad at her and you are not interfering." He said blankly. "Fine." Karina said, standing up. "I'm going to go meet George. Because we are civilised, and kind. Oh my god Blaise, I'm giving you a hint. Talk to her, figure it out. Idiot." She muttered the last word as she walked away.
"Alright!" Began Fred, "Welcome, to our amazing plan!" Then continued George, "Tomorrow, is my potato's birthday. And we are making it super special! Now go to your classes, "he pushed her gently away, "As we begin this. Sorry, love. But I can't see you 'till tomorrow." He said. "We aren't getting married! What's happening!" Karina laughed as Fred pushed her away. All she could think for the rest of the day, was her birthday tomorrow, which she had completely forgotten about.