In The Life of Skye Black

Chapter Eleven

Author's Note: I'm rewriting this, but it's going to be such a heavy rewrite, that I'm going to try to finish up this version first. This takes place in December.

xXxXx

September, October, and November passed by far too quickly for my liking. The first half of December, for that matter, also went by too fast.

All too soon it was the day of Slughorn's party.

"Are you sure you don't want to go?" Martin asked on the way to Muggle Studies.

"Positive," I laughed.

"Great, now I'm not going to know anyone there."

"I think McLaggen's going…"

Martin made a face. "He's Josh's friend. Not mine."

I laughed. "He is a bit pretentious, isn't he?"

"A bit?"

"Okay, he's completely conceited, and absolute rubbish at Quidditch."

"Thank you."

"He says he's going with someone in our year," I said.

Martin rolled his eyes. "Who?"

"I dunno. He wouldn't tell me more than that. Fred and George thought I was mental for trying to get him to tell me."

Martin considered it. "Well, McLaggen wouldn't tell you. More than likely it Parvati Patil or someone who just wanted to go to that stupid party."

"You're not going?"

"I hate parties."

"That's a no?" I asked.

"Yeah, that's a no."

"You'll be in for a shock then," I said as I entered the classroom.

Martin stopped in his tracks. "What do you mean?"

"Dad always has this huge Christmas party. Usually it's just the Weasleys and some of his and mum's friends, but this year he invited Josh and Regina and their friends, obviously you're coming, or Dad will have a fit, and I'm afraid of what Ginny and Hermione are going to make me wear."

"I have to go?"

"Or else Dad will have a fit. Besides, it's not like it's a long trip or anything, is it?"

"No, but… I hate parties!"

Regina, who was walking by, cocked an eyebrow. "Really? I adore them."

I laughed at Martin's expression.

"Come on, it's not that bad. I usually just watch the telly or read."

"That's before all of these people were invited."

I laughed. "True."

I sat down in my seat, which was next to Scarlett Thompson, one of Martin's friends. Martin and Regina sat down behind us.

"I hate parties," Martin muttered.

"That's too bad," Scarlett said, turning around. "Because you're taking me to Slughorn's party tonight."

"Not again…"

"You can leave as soon as I get in, but I'd much rather not gate crash."

"Surprising," Martin said, "that's what Billie Joe and Johnny Rotten would do."

"But I'm not them, now, am I? You're taking me, end of story."

"But–"

"No."

"Scarlett–"

"No."

"Come on!" Martin yelled.

Regina giggled, seeing as the entire room had shut up and turned towards him. Scarlett even laughed.

"Fine," Martin muttered.

"Thank you," Scarlett said in an all-too-cheerful way.

"Psst! Skye!"

Fred was in the seat in front of me.

"You don't have to whisper, you know."

"No one else is talking!"

I stuck my tongue out at the back of his head.

At that moment, Professor Burbage walked into the room. "I have the cast list!"

There was a unanimous groan. Not that I wasn't pleased to be in the same class as Fred (and Josh as well), but I really didn't want to be in that play.

"Scarlett O'Hara… Scarlett Thompson."

Scarlett grinned.

Martin rolled his eyes. "Of course. Wait for it…"

"Rhett Butler… Martin Vance."

"Brilliant. Not that I wasn't expecting it, but…"

"Suellen O'Hara… Regina Montague."

Regina groaned.

"Carreen O'Hara… Skylar Black."

Well, it was a decent role, at least.

"Frank Kennedy… Joshua McAllister."

Josh shot up. I assumed he had been sleeping. "What!? I don't want to be in the play! I signed up for stage crew! I have witnesses!"

Regina rolled her eyes. Burbage ignored him.

"Brent Tarleton… Fred Weasley."

I saw Josh holding back a smile. I glared at him. He was happy about this? Knowing Burbage, Fred and I were bound to snog or something onstage and Josh was laughing?

"Stuart Tarleton… George Weasley."

"That casting wasn't obvious," Regina muttered.

"Charles Hamilton… Neville Longbottom."

I wasn't even aware that Nevillle was in this class.

"Melanie Hamilton Wilkes… Helene Aubrey."

"But who's Ashley?" Scarlett asked under her breath.

"Ashley Wilkes… Draco Malfoy."

"WHAT!?" a girl, one of Josh's friends, yelled, standing up. "No, no way. I am not getting within ten feet of him."

"You can't make me act with him!" Scarlett whined loudly.

"I don't even want to be in this damn play!"

Obviously not. He was a Death Eater, wasn't he?

"Enough! Draco Malfoy will play Ashley Wilkes. That is final."

Scarlett, Helene, and Draco sat down, all grumbling.

"Gerald O'Hara… Seamus Finnegan. Ellen O'Hara… Lavender Brown."

Parvati and Lavender giggled.

"Mammy… Sierra Price."

"That's not racist," a girl said, rolling her eyes. "I'm the only black girl in here, and who do I get cast as? Mammy! Of course. So damn predictable."

"Belle Watling… Aspasia Jones."

"What!? I'm no whore! And I'm not even a fucking ginger!" a girl screamed.

"Belle's hair is dyed."

"Oh, no, no, no. I'm not fucking dying my hair! That'll ruin it!"

"Wade Hamilton, Ella Kennedy, and Bonnie Butler will be played by volunteers in lower years. They are as follows… Wade Hamilton… Dennis Creevey."

There was a unanimous groan amongst the Gryffindors.

"Ella Kennedy… Lillian Woodruff. She's a first year."

"Isn't that Lucy's sister?" Scarlett asked Martin, who shrugged.

"Bonnie Blue Butler… Sadie Macmillan, who is again, a first year. Now, will Miss Patil and Miss Patil pass out the scripts? They're labeled with the role and the actor."

Scarlett groaned as she was handed hers. "I have to kiss Draco Malfoy… and Neville Longbottom… and Seamus Finnegan… and I have to snog Martin."

"You say that like it's the worst thing in the world."

"It isn't. It's just… she's really going to make us snog onstage, you know. And that's going to be uncomfortable, especially since we're friends and all."

"Oh, right."

Regina cocked an eyebrow, but said nothing.

Through the entire remainder of class, Martin seemed more depressed than usual. I wondered what was wrong with him.

One thing was certain: none of us would be in a good mood for a party tonight.

xXxXx

Author's Note: It took long enough for me to update, but alas! It only took me two days to write this, while I was working on various other things. Sorry it's short as well. Read and review, loves.