Chapter Ten
Gideon didn't wait for Saturday to see me again. At dinner on Thursday, he slipped into the empty seat next to mine, just as I was finishing my pudding. Grinning cheekily, he asked, "Would you like to go on a walk with me?"
Saying no wasn't an option, even if I'd wanted to, which I most assuredly didn't. Before I could reply, Lottie was practically pushing me out of my seat. "She would love to," Marly answered for me.
"We'll take your bag back to the dormitory," Tina told me. All three of them were grinning like madwomen. Not obvious at all.
"Thank you, ladies. I'll bring her back to you unscathed, I promise," Gideon said with his signature grin. Then, he took my arm and escorted me outside.
Having just come back from Herbology, I luckily still had my cloak and scarf with me, which Gideon scooped up for me before we left the table. He then proceeded to wrap me up in them in the entryway, batting my hands away playfully when I moved to do it myself. "We can't have you getting sick, now, can we? Especially before Saturday."
"What about you?" I asked, noting that he was simply wearing his robes. "Won't you get cold?"
"I'll be fine," he said, brushing off my concern. "Now, let's be off."
We wandered all over the grounds, eventually ending by the Black Lake, where he taught me how to skip rocks. I may have already known how to do so, but I didn't tell him that, not when it meant he had his arms around me for a bit to do so.
The two of us talked about our favorite classes (his: Transfiguration, mine: Herbology), favorite seasons (both: spring), favorite colors (his: green, mine: yellow). We talked about books, and our families, and anything that came to mind. By the time Gideon walked me back to my House, kissing my cheek again when he left, I felt like I knew him rather well, and I liked him even more than I had already. And I felt that I simply floated into my dormitory, where the girls were waiting anxiously for my report.
"Uh, you're so lucky, Pet," Lottie sighed, after I recited my entire evening for discussion. "He's obviously mad for you. I wish Evander would fancy me back."
"Just wait until Saturday, and you can have him all to yourself for the day," Tina assured.
…
Saturday dawned cold and frosty, bringing the hippogriffs in my stomach back with it. Lottie was in even more of a tizzy than either Tina or I was, fretting about which shoes to wear, and if she should plait her hair or leave it down.
Marly was a dear, helping the three of us get ready for our dates by finding shoes, scarves, and makeup that had somehow managed to scatter throughout our dorm room. Then, once we were all ready, she merely ran a brush through her hair and declared herself ready. "I'm almost glad I don't have a date," she quipped. "Then I don't have to worry about what I look like."
"But what if Henry Carlson sees you?" Lottie teased.
"Yeah, you wouldn't want him to see you when you don't look your best," Tina added.
"If Henry Carlson did notice me, it would be because of my Quidditch skills. He's not much into looks," she said loftily, but I did notice her sliding a lipstick into her pocket as we were leaving the room.
None of us girls who had dates could really eat anything, due to nerves and excitement, since it was all of our very first official dates. Before long, Jonas came to collect Tina, and then I saw Gideon and Evander walking our way, joking with each other. "He's so gorgeous," Lottie sighed, and I agreed, just not on the person.
"Hello, ladies," Gideon said again, his lovely grin firmly in place. "Are you all set to go, Petunia?"
"Of course," I replied, jumping up immediately and grabbing my cloak.
Lottie and Evander walked with us down to the village, but Gideon did manage to whisper "You look lovely, Petunia" in my ear privately, causing me to blush again.
But I managed to flirt back. "You don't look too bad yourself, Prewett," I teased. He grinned.
Honeydukes was our first stop, where Gideon insisted on buying me an entire box of Chocolate Frogs, though I wouldn't let him pay for Lily's fudge. By the time we were done, Lottie and Evander were playfully arguing the merits of Cauldron Cakes vs. Chocolate Cauldrons, so we left them and headed to Zonko's. "Sorry, I just have to pick up a few things. We're running out of dungbombs, and Fabian landed himself in detention, so he couldn't pick them up. I'll be quick," he promised, but I didn't mind. Simply because I didn't use their products didn't mean that I couldn't appreciate the genius behind them.
After Gideon got what he needed, and even bought me a few Sugar Quills to "make up for dragging you in", he slipped my arm through his and started walking. It didn't take long for me to realize where he was headed, and I planted my feet quickly, catching him off guard.
"Really? The Shrieking Shack? Again?" I asked, eyebrow raised. "Didn't you traumatize me enough last time we were there?"
He grinned at me, sliding his hand down to mine. "I promise I won't scare you again."
The puppy eyes he was giving me broke through my reserve. "Alright, but if a ghost comes out, I'm pushing you into its path."
Gideon's laugh boomed out, sending the hippogriffs tap dancing. "I will save you from any ghosts," he assured, now entwining his fingers with mine, tugging me gently to get me walking again.
We talked as we went, and I was amazed to find that we still had things to discuss, even after our walk two days previously. He was telling me a funny story about how he and Fabian had confused their sister when we got to the Shrieking Shack.
Simply looking at the abandoned building caused shivers to run down my spine. "Scared?" Gideon teased.
"Well, it is the most haunted building in Britain," I defended myself. "The Fat Friar couldn't even find nice words to describe the ghosts here, so you know they have to be bad."
He laughed. "I won't make you go in, I promise. I just wanted to come here for a little bit," he said, and I thought I might have caught a twinge of uncertainty, or possibly nervousness, in his voice.
Somehow, his hesitancy brought out my boldness. "Yeah? And why did you want to come here?" I asked, the flirtatious tone back in my voice.
Gideon moved a little closer to me, facing me now and taking my other hand in his, as well. "Last year, when we came here," he began, not answering me right away, "and you were so worried about my hand, that's when I knew."
"You knew what?" I whispered, hoping against hope that he would say what I thought he was going to.
Instead of answering, he dipped his head down and kissed me. It was quick, just a brush of lips, but it sent electricity shooting through me. "I knew I wanted you to be mine," he whispered, looking me in the eye again.
Grinning, I whispered, "Oh good," before stretching on tiptoe and kissing him again.
…
We went to Madam Puddifoot's tea shop for lunch, but after stepping into that pink monstrosity, we quickly left, heading to The Three Broomsticks. "I'm so sorry," I giggled, clutching Gideon's hand to keep me upright from laughing so hard. "One of the Sixth Years told me about it, and it sounded nice, but she left out all the frills."
"It looked like my sister's old doll house, but multiply the lace by about a thousand," he agreed, caught between laughter and horror.
The Three Broomsticks was a much better venue, and Gideon bought our lunch while I found a table. When he came to join me, he brought Max and his date with. "There's nowhere else available, hope you don't mind, Petunia," Max told me with a grin.
"Of course not," I told him, simply scooting closer to Gideon to make more room for the other two. I most definitely didn't mind that, at all.
Soon enough, the conversation turned to Quidditch, like it usually did with these boys, and I eagerly jumped in, bemoaning Hufflepuff's chances of winning the cup. Margaret, Max's date, however, kept rolling her eyes and trying to change to subject. "I really want to go to Gladrags," she whined at Max. "I need some new robes, and I heard they got some new French designs in. I have to get them before Cynthia Glau does."
"We'll get there," Max promised, but his smile didn't quite reach his eyes. It was all I could do to keep my grin hidden.
After twenty more minutes of Margaret's complaining about everything from the "low quality" of the food and service at here at The Three Broomsticks to the way the house elves ironed her robes, Gideon and I finally bade the happy couple goodbye. As we walked back up to the castle, Gideon kept me laughing, nearly in tears, with his spot-on impressions of Margaret. "And if those stupid elves can't get the creases on my robes right, I just might give them all clothes," he finished, in a ridiculously high-pitched voice.
"Poor Max," I finally managed to squeak out.
"Oh, don't pity him," Gideon brushed my worry aside. "That's what he gets for asking a bird out who only has a pretty face."
"Really? And what does that make you?" I asked, stopping in my tracks, playfully mad.
"A bloke who was lucky enough to win a bird with a pretty face and a brain," he told me, tugging me closer again. "Not to mention she's one of the nicest people I've ever met," he added, just before kissing me again.
Eventually, Gideon took me back to my House, kissing me one last time before letting me go. "Can I see you tomorrow?" he asked, still holding onto my hand.
"I'll be studying in the library with Lily in the morning, but the afternoon's free," I told him, unable to keep the smile from my face.
"Not anymore it's not," he grinned. "I'll see you at dinner then."
Once again, I all but floated into my dorm. I was sure that my feet didn't even touch the ground. Until I saw Lottie crying on her bed. That brought me down with a thump.
"What happened?" I asked, only pausing to throw my things onto my bed before hurrying over to her.
"It seems that Evander doesn't share her feelings," Marly whispered, petting Lottie's hair soothingly.
"You told him?" I asked, sitting on her other side.
"It was awful!" she wailed from inside her pillow. "The day was going so well, and then I suggested Madam Puddifoot's for lunch, and he practically ran from me! But only after telling me that it wasn't that kind of date, and that he only had friendly feelings for me! He hates me now!"
"Well, Madam Puddifoot's is sort of terrible, so maybe he just wanted to avoid it," I said, trying to salvage something for her.
It didn't work. Lottie pulled herself up from her pillow only to glare at me. "Yes, that's it. He was only running from the idea of Madam Puddifoot's. The fact that he thinks of me as another little sister had nothing to do with it!"
Marly and I winced in unison. "I'm sorry, Lottie," I told her, hugging her fiercely.
"There will be other boys," Marly added. "And I know for a fact that Davey Gudgeon has been watching you wistfully for the past three weeks."
"Really? Davey is rather dishy," Lottie replied, wiping her eyes.
"Yes, he is," I agreed, though only to encourage her.
"Oh, we all know you only have eyes for a certain redheaded Fifth Year," she teased me. "You don't have to agree just to make me feel better. And now you have to tell us all about your date."
I tried to protest, feeling bad about the way hers had ended in contrast with mine, but both of my friends insisted. "If anything can make me feel better, it'll be hearing about how happy you are," Lottie guaranteed. So I relented, telling them about how adorable Gideon had been just before kissing me in particular.
After my tale was told, Marly sighed dramatically. "Ah, you two are so adorable! I'm so happy for you!"
"I can see it now," Lottie said, sounding exactly the way she always did when imitating the Divination teacher, Professor Blythe. "You will grow up and marry, and seven little redheads will join your happy abode." She ignored my startled outburst of "Seven!" and continued on. "You will live long lives together, watching your children and their children. He will work for the Ministry, and you will be the perfect housewife, and nothing will ever mar your happiness!"
"Lottie, are you sure you haven't hit your head recently?" I asked in faux concern. "Because you're babbling!"
She answered with a pillow in my face.
The afternoon couldn't pass quickly enough that day. After the fifth time checking the clock in an hour, I jumped up from the couch in the common room, pulling my friends with me. It was finally an appropriate time to go to dinner, and I was more than ready to head to the Great Hall. "You just want to see your new boyfriend," Tina teased. "Food has nothing to do with this."
"Can you blame her?" Lottie asked, coming to my defense. "He is rather gorgeous."
"Who's gorgeous?" a voice questioned, just outside the doorway. Nic was there, apparently waiting for us.
"Pet's new boyfriend," Tina sang.
Nic whirled on me. "You're dating Prewett now?" he spat, rather accusingly.
His venom stung. I didn't expect him to be jumping for joy, but I'd thought he would at least be happy for me. "Yes, I am," I stated, pulling myself up as tall as I could. I'd not realized how tall Nic had gotten, but now that his ire was aimed at me, he was a bit intimidating.
Nic stared hard at me for a moment, before turning his back on me and storming away.
I was stunned. Tears were pricking my eyes, and I was suddenly shaking. Nic had a temper, I'd known that, but never once had it ever been turned on me. "What was that all about?" Tina asked, breaking the silence.
"Come on, Pet, let's just get to dinner. You'll feel better after seeing Gideon," Marly said, slipping her arm around my waist and guiding me to dinner.
Gideon was waiting for me, leaning against the wall across from the Great Hall, and he grinned when he saw me, though it quickly faded. "What's wrong, Petunia?" he asked worriedly.
"Nic yelled at her for dating you," Tina explained.
The worried frown on Gideon's face turned into a glower. "Nic Selwyn? I thought he was your friend."
"He is," I assured quickly. "He is, but I don't understand why he's so angry with me for dating you."
Lottie coughed, and Marly snorted. "Really, Pet, it's not that hard to figure out. He's been in love with you since you stood up to him in Potions," Marly told me.
"He's not in love with me," I sighed. "It doesn't matter. Let's just go in and eat, yes?"
Gideon looked like he would rather go find my friend and give him a talking to, one that involved fists rather than words, but he followed when I slipped my hand into his and tugged.
Over the next week, Nic took to avoiding me everywhere we went. Even in Arithmancy, where we'd always sat together, he rather pointedly sat with one of his fellow Slytherins, leaving me alone. It wasn't until Saturday, when Danae dragged him into the library, that he finally talked to me.
Gideon had joined me and Lily in our study session, and Fabian had tagged along, as well. Fabian was even helping Lily, giving her handy jinxes to use the next time Potter started in on her again and explaining the difference hexes, jinxes, and curses for her Defense essay, while Gideon "helped" me with my Transfiguration homework. Mostly he was just doodling on my parchment, tickling me with his quill, and explaining the theory a bit here and there. Then suddenly, Danae was shoving Nic at our table, startling us all. "Now, tell her what you just told me," she demanded, looking stern, and even a bit frightening, to be honest.
Nic glared back at her, but then turned to me. "I'm sorry, Pet, for being such a-"
"Bloody prat," Danae supplied helpfully. She got another glare.
"I'm sorry for yelling at you-"
"And ignoring you all week." This time it was Gideon who helped him out. He also got a glare, one that was much more heated than the one aimed at Danae.
"I'm sorry for hurting you," Nic told me softly, trying to ignore the others around us. "I'm sorry, Pet. Forgive me?"
Fabian let out a rather loud snort, but I ignored him. "Of course, Nic. You're my friend," I told him, before hugging him quickly. Then, I turned to Gideon, taking his hand and pulling him up to stand by me. "So, Nic, I'd like you to meet my boyfriend, Gideon Prewett. Gideon, my good friend, Nic Selwyn. Now, play nicely, boys. Oh, and that's Fabian, Gideon's brother."
Fabian pretended to be offended at me leaving him out, but I was a bit preoccupied with the two boys in front of me. After all, they were the most important boys in my life, and I wanted them to get along. They simply stared at each other for a moment, before Gideon relented. "Selwyn," he said, holding out his hand congenially.
"Prewett," Nic replied, taking the proffered hand. "Just make sure you don't hurt her," he said after a moment.
"I won't," Gideon promised. "You make sure you don't hurt her."
Both boys nodded, and everything went back to normal. Nic spent time with us all, but mostly when Gideon wasn't around. But I did notice that Gideon tended to wrap an arm around me, pulling me closer to him, whenever Nic came over. After everything that happened, I couldn't help but realize that Nic did fancy me, though we all pretended otherwise. It was simply easier that way.
AN: I probably should have put some sort of fluff warning at the beginning of the chapter, but I couldn't resist. Gideon is just too cute to ignore or put off any longer. There will be plenty more of the Prewett twins, don't worry. I have a lot of fun writing them, and they'll be in Petunia's life for quite a while yet. Thanks to all who've followed and favorited since the last chapter. A big thanks to PurpleReader29, guest, nene, and A.G.W. for their reviews. They make my day!
