When I wake up, the first thing that I can think of is Rose. I groan and turn onto my side, watching a small ray of dawn slip through the crack in the red fabric surrounding my bed. I look down and realize I'm still in the comfy clothes and slippers I pulled on last night. I reach beside my and stroke Araceli.
"Poor darling," I murmur. "Yesterday went rather sour, huh? I never got to play with you darling!" Araceli blinks his deep eyes at me and hoots softly. He's on the soft, plum colored cushion that came with the gold cage. At the top of the cage is a little dent that you can glue decoration in to personalize the cage. Rose has a mouse (rather against the rules, since a mouse isn't a rat, but she doesn't care) that she bought a cage like mine for. Hers, however, has a pink cushion, and she, for her decoration, has a gold knob that is specially made. It can turn into almost anything from a knife to a spool of never-ending thread. She gave me one for my birthday, figuring I could use it when I (quote,) "Spent some money for Merlin's sake and bought a pet", but I haven't done anything with it except make it into a really cool bookmark when I'm shorthanded for one. I reach for my wand and mumble a spell, all the while holding it over the small dent. One undoable sticking charm later, the knob is safely secured on top of the cage, and then I think about the time. I don't have a clock or anything handy, but I do have a magic knob! I tap my wand on it three times and whisper, "Reformabit clock." The ball turns into a small clock, and I can see that it's...FIVE THIRTY? Awesome. I'm not even tired, it's a weekend, and I can take a nice, relaxing trip! I slip into some black robes and quickly walk out of the dormitories. Now that Voldemort's gone, the new headmaster is a lot more lax, letting us take spur of the moment trips to home or whatever. She just makes us sign a book of when we leave and when we'll be back, and she has a twelve hour limit. No overnight stays, either, unless it's a holiday and people are visiting home. Who woulda thunk McGonagall had it in her? Dad says she was pretty strict during his school days, but that she was the best in a pinch. I stop for a moment and think. Where should I go? I don't want to stick around the grounds, 'cause I'm kind of sick of staying inside all of the time. After walking around for a while, I finally decide to go home for a quick visit. I scribble my name in the book next to the giant entrance hall, walk outside and run along the path until I'm outside of the school grounds. It's about two miles, and by the time I manage to find The Fireplace, I'm winded. I touch the pouch of Floo powder I always keep in my pocket, reassuring myself I didn't run all this way for nothing. Before taking it out, however, I admire The Fireplace. It sure is beautiful. A while back, when some wizards had taken an interest in geology, they dug up a mammoth piece of quartz. Seriously. It was as big as a regular-sized house, although a lot think that they put and enlarging charm on it. The Ministry had used it for two decorative pillars, and when the Ministry was trashed, McGonagall took the quartz and fashioned it into a fireplace the size of a small room. The fire inside flickered on the pure, polished quartz, making it flash and sparkle like amber in the sun. I reach for my pocket, when suddenly, from behind me, I hear a noise. I gasp, and hurtle into the corn field beside me. I silently curse myself. WHY? It's not a crime to visit somewhere! Sheesh. A boy with closely cropped brown hair and green eyes strides down the path. He has chocolate colored skin, and smile lines. I don't recognize him, but then again, I don't recognize many people in my year. I'm fairly anti-social. The boy starts toward the fire, but then turns and looks straight at me.
"LILY!" He cries. I back up, but he runs forward and clasps my hands into his. "So YOU'RE the girl he's always going on about!" I try to tug away, but it's not working. He's seriously got my hands in a death grip. Wait, what guy? I'd think on it more, but suddenly he let's go of me. Then he grabs my head like it's a basketball! This guy has no respect for personal boundaries. He examines me carefully, making little comments. "Hmm… you seem nice enough, but never go by appearances. Sweet looking, I bet you're as innocent as they come, hmm?" I break free.
"Who even ARE you?" I ask. His bubbly manner suddenly turns fake-shocked.
"You don't even know my name?" He asks. He gets down on one knee and takes my hand into his. "I'm Aengus! You know, the best friend to the guy you're smitten with?" My stomach comes down with a thunk and I blush. Aengus ignores my discomfort and keeps going. "In case you're wondering, he's even more obsessed. The guy talks about you day in and day off. Or day in and out. Whatever. ANYWAY, he's obsessed." I should be terrified of this guy and want to check him into a mental hospital, but he's actually pretty nice, just… a tease. Aengus goes on. "Anyway AGAIN, Angus and I were strangers until the day that we found out that our names were pronounced the same. It's awesome! My name's actually spelled A-E-N-G-U-S, by the way. Oh, hey, I got to run, but Angus sent me to find you and ask you to dinner. He's probably biting his nails to the quick as we speak. He'll pick you up! Oh, and wear something nice." I don't know what to say to this, at least until Angus hurries down the path, looking exhausted.
"AENGUS YOU ARE SO DEAD." He says all in one breath. He stops in front of me, and starts speaking rapid fire.
"Don't believe anything that he said and I'm so sorry and I didn't want him to come along and I was going to ask you if you could come with me into the fireplace because I want to show you something really pretty and THEN I would ask you to dinner but he tagged along and WHEW he can run so fast and don't believe ANYTHING he said and-" Aengus turned and shook him.
"Mate, calm down. Oh, and you might want to take back the whole "anything you said" part, because I just confessed your undying love for her. She blushes a lot." At that I, predictably, blush. Angus looks horrified.
"Oh, gosh, Lily, I'm SO SO sorry and um… would you like to go to dinner? I know a really nice Muggle place… I got reservations and… um… about the undying love thing… ummm..." I stop him because the poor boy is obviously flustered.
"I would love to go to dinner." I say, smiling. Aengus smiles.
"He'll pick you up at six." Aengus informs me, and Angus punches him in the shoulder. Aengus winces.
"That hurt." He moans. Angus nods.
"I'd say good, but we have company." Aengus looks at me with a tragic save me expression on his face.
"Lily!" He cries, pouncing on me and knocking me to the ground. "Save me from the evil Angus!" I push him off of me and shook my head.
"Umm… Aengus? This is SO confusing. Can I call you Aen?" Angus and Angus both nod.
"Sure!" They chorus. I point at Aengus.
"Oh." They both say. embarrased.. Aengus nods.
"Sure." He says.
OK. What do you think of Aengus? And the whole Aen thing? I like it. I really like this chapter! I'm so excited! Whooooo! Anyway, I'm really excited for the next chappie. See you!