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Damn it, am I going to live my whole entire life being interrupted by grown ups? Seriously, if I have a wedding or something, I'm gonna make sure that all the guests are silenciod and frozen before I say 'I do'. Because it seems like whenever I'm either about to answer or hear an important question I get interrupted. (I wonder how my last judgment's gonna be like.)
Geez, why can't I ever just finish hearing something? The world isn't going to spontaneously combust because I finally heard a complete sentence.
God, It's like a curse.
I briefly closed my eyes, to see that maybe if I open them again I'll be in my room at Leaky and all of this would have been some crazy dream, (Because this was all seriously too weird to be reality.) rubbing them a bit for good measure. I opened my eyes and was met with the same scene. Crup, now I'm going to actually have to deal with this weirdness. Why couldn't Rose just have killed me with the book when she had the chance.
Opening my eyes I saw Rose standing a couple of paces away, her face aflame, and refusing to meet my gaze. Her face was so red, it looked about the same shade as her hair. Like seriously fire hydrant red. Like if I put my hand on her cheek, I might actually get first degree burns. I wouldn't mind, her skin looks pretty soft.
It was actually pretty funny, you know, if I wasn't like mortified to death.
My back was to the man, so I couldn't see his face. I couldn't see anything of him, now that I think about it. But I could definitely hear him alright. He was stuttering and stammering and tripping over what definitely sounded a lot like words, but not quite.
I held my position, and kept my eyes on the ground in front of me. The noises he was making sounded pretty livid, like a leopard's miaow/ snarl and I didn't want my murderer's hands around my neck to be the last thing I saw before I died.
Yes, I'd much rather like to have my muddy sneakers as the final picture imprinted into my corneas. My logic defies all forms of intellect.
Glancing at Rose, she seemed to look exactly how I felt. With bugged eyes and a down-turned mouth, the girl looked like a kid caught cheating on a test. A mixture of freaked out past coherent thoughts, and embarrassed past all words. Um yeah, tension? Meet my very blunt butterknife. Did you hear? It can easily cut you.
A red-faced, red-head was standing near a bruised blond guy, who was staring at the floor as if all he wanted was to be swallowed up by it. It would be a pretty funny picture. And don't forget the unfaced man with a speech impediment standing just a few feet behind them. You obviously can't miss that.
I risked another peek at Rose and shot her a pointed, questioning look.
But all I got back was a mortified and uncomfortable, "Oh, bullocks." from her.
Not exactly the response I was looking for, sweetie, but it's alright. She must be feeling pretty horrified about not only hugging a total stranger, but getting caught by someone you actually know.
"Oi! Rose, answer me! What the hell is going on here?" The man demanded dazedly (Ah, finally! Words.) as he was now getting over his too-freaked-out-beyond-words state and was slowly getting into his too-pissed-off-to-see-reason-state. "And you!" I was wondering when I'd be noticed. "Turn around and face me, boy!" Aw geez, really, someone's really trying to make me kill myself. I grit my teeth together and made a face to face the random stranger who was yelling at me. Please not boyfriend, please not boyfriend. Brother, cousin, uncle, anything but boyfriend.
I was fiddling with my shirt and casting my face down, when I faced him. (I don't need him to have a target as well as a motivation to punch me.) And at the corner of my eye I saw Rose's face flush a darker color (and here, I thought it wasn't possible.) and contort into a look of both the chagrin and anger, she had. And that was a lot of anger she was feeling, by the looks of it.
"Dad! Stop it! Stop embarrassing me!" Rose shrieked furiously with bugged eyes. Her red hair looked like it radiated electricity. Her fingers came out of its tangled knot, and was clenched tightly into fists.
So, he was her father. The relief I got from finally getting some explanation of the sort instantly disappeared as I finally registered everything. Crap, it was her father. I would rather have had the boyfriend. (God, not in that way, ew geesh I-yeah, I think you should get it. If you don't well, I don't have time to explain my straightness to you. I have bigger things to worry about. Like the fact that I was caught hugging practically a stranger, by, out of all the people in Diagon Alley, her Dad. Really the fates must be cracking up right now. Yeah, laugh it up, you bastards.) Yeah, why don't you just book my hospital bed already. Urgh, you know what this calls for. Hey, don't laugh! My emo, bangs covered face may not be the most attractive, but…it protects me.
Like how a little rugrat closes his eyes in a crowd so people can't find him. It's pathetic how all I can hide behind is my hair, right now.
This was kind of scary beyond relief. I've been caught by girlfriend's brothers a whole lot. Uncles, a plenty. Heck, I think I even got caught by a girl's boyfriend once. But I've always managed to stay away from Dads until the last possible moment. It's like instinct, a blip on my danger radar, alerts me whenever a paternal parent is nearby.
I guess, my father bear senses are wacked up in England. Among all my other favourite qualities. Why? Because the fates exist to torture me, that's why. They've spiked the water! That's like the only explanation! Argh, England does not like me. And the feeling is very much mutual.
But that clears up a lot. Him being her Dad. Not a lot of people have the right to be that loud. And that could explain Rose's embarrassed/defiant look. Looking up very, very slightly, I could see a definite resemblance. Freckles were spread around his face, in an almost mirror image of his daughter's so they both were splattered across the nose that Rose had gotten. They even had the same blue eyes, flaming red hair, and right now, the same flaming face color. Even their ears collected the same amount of blood to turn the exact same color. And I thought it couldn't be replicated, but apparently arteries are hereditary.
He didn't see me glance up thankfully, because his anger was now channeled at the teenage girl in front of me, who was now standing stiffly with her hands on her hips with a look of pure gold. She looked ready to kill. Wonder how this one plays out.
"Don't talk to me like that, young lady!" Ooh, I hate it when they pull out the 'Don't talk to me like that.' Card. I mean seriously, out of all the things to say when you see stuff happening, that's all you care about? The tone? "I am your father! Who is this? I don't know him! What are you doing hugging some random boy! And in Flourish and Blott's?!"
The random boy part caught me off guard, because I forgot that I was that boy he was referring to for a second. Well if it helps we met for like 5 seconds yesterday. Ask the boy that interrupted us, he could probably recognize me once I flick the weird emo bangs I had, right now, away from my face.
"Would you prefer if we went somewhere else?" Rose retorted sarcastically, with the usual company of an eye roll. Hm, turns out Rose, isn't the typical Brit. Sure she's kind of stuck-up, or well okay, really stuck up. But anyone who sticks up for themselves in the face of authority is always pretty much okay in my book. Way to stick it to the man, Rose.
Rose must have gotten a lot of satisfaction at seeing her Dad imitate a goldfish for a few seconds. I would totally have gotten a kick out it, if I were her.
But recovering quickly from his shock, Rose's dad stomped his foot in frustration a few seconds later (people still do that? Who knew?) "You both aren't going anywhere together, you hear me! Because-because, I don't know him at all!" right because that explanation is good enough for anything.
His face was so red, I don't think I saw anyone's face that color before. Except for Rose. I corrected as I glanced at her again. My eyes were starting to hurt from straining to look at them without showing my face. Yeah, I wasn't ready to show my face just yet, so for those who don't know, that weird tall freak with a platinum curtain on his face standing in the middle of a shouting match between two red-heads of varying sizes. Yep that's me. Call me a coward, my courage can only stretch so far. And red-faced giants for Dads are my limit.
From what I could see, there were a lot of red blobs in front of me. I guess, their faces were the same color as their hair, because I couldn't tell which one was which.
They went on arguing like that for a while. Rose said something about being old enough to hang out with boys who aren't related to her and somehow known by her parents. And her Dad retaliated by stuttering out something like only being able to hang out with Owl and James. She finally rounded and stormed towards him. And forgetting all my security, I looked up to face this scene. Because it looked like something I wouldn't want to miss.
Rose stood straight a few feet away and lifted her head so that she was staring right at her Dad, squarely in the eye. Man, Rose's Dad was tall. Like even taller than me. Rose must have one serious crick in the neck. And he was staring at her with the same stubborn, stare that I swear is hereditary. Among other obvious traits.
"I was just hugging a friend hello, and then you went all mental and started yelling at me!"
I resisted the urge to clear my throat (Dead give away.) and tried to make it seem as if this wasn't new to me. Because I'd like to come out of this entire thing, alive, if you don't mind. Rose wouldn't look at me as she enunciated every word slowly and clearly, to get the point across. I could imagine why she wouldn't look at me, seeing as it was a flat out lie. (I think we were very much past the 'hello' part when she hugged me. I'm just saying)
You could tell she was trying to be the grown up in this situation, since no other one was around at the present time. And it would have worked too, if she wasn't practically hissing at her Dad. Not the politest thing to do apparently.
"Don't talk to me like that young lady!" He roared back. Well at least, we know where Rose got her stubbornness from. He wouldn't just admit he overreacted and get over it. Nope, he just moved onto the next topic where he could yell at her. Reminds me of someone. CoughcoughDraco/Astoriacoughcough.
Rose's Dad's face was a few shades darker, now and I was beginning to worry he might pop a vessel, then and there. I wonder what would have happened if you prodded the vein throbbing in his temple. I didn't do it of course, because he'd start to notice me if I just started poking his head. And I really liked the fact that I was practically invisible right now. Maybe if they continued arguing I could slip away quietly. This was getting too after-school-special for me. An my eardrums were pretty sensitive when all of this started, so right now it feels like it's frickin bleeding. Now I can almost feel sympathy for Lyra.
But I didn't get the chance to sneak away of course, because timing belongs in the hands of the People who don't particularly like me.
"And who the bloody hell are you, boy?" Rose's Dad rounded on me. He made it sound like an accusation, like whatever I said would instantly be declared the wrong answer. So don't blame me for not answering straight away. My throat felt scratchy and bitter, as if someone made me swallow pennies. This happens when I'm freaked out of my wits. I was scared and pale, would be a spot on description of my obscured face.
I stared at my feet, and mumbled something even I couldn't understand. And I'm the one saying it. From a distance, I heard Rose as she shrilly yelled at her Dad to leave me alone.
"Look up when you speak to me, boy, and tell me what your name is." The man said menacingly again. But this time his voice sounded really close. Like in my face close. I knew I should have just grabbed the book on the first day, if only Lyra and Mom came just a few minutes later.
And geez, what was I gonna do now? That was a pretty direct order. I couldn't just ignore the general. He could like, crucio me or something. So I just took the plunge, taking a deep breath, I ran a hand to brush my hair away, and looked up.
"I'm Scorpius. My name is Scorpius."
My steel grey eye met the wide with astonishment, blue ones when I looked up. To say he was surprised would be the understatement of the week (or one of them any way.). His jaw was about a mile away, and his eyes were pretty close to it too. It would have been pretty funny. And it kind of was, just a little. But it's safe to say that the confusion definitely overrode the humor. He looked like I just came out and said I was his father, the Darth Vader way (Yeah, to those clueless, sad people out there, Darth Vader is a sort of villain from one of the best muggle movies of all time. I'll explain what a movie is later, when I'm not in danger of being sterilized.) I'm serious, there was like shock, confusion, horror, revulsion, all rolled into one.
Which was kind of mean, because it's not like I cut off his arm and asked him to rule the universe by my side. I just told him my name, and granted it isn't the best name out there, but I don't think it deserves that. God, rude much?, I wanted to say to him as he continued to gape, revolted at me. I'm not distorted or anything (quite the opposite actually.) so why was he looking at me as if I was some ghost of Christmas past who came back to haunt him?
I frowned at his gapping expression (he does that quite a lot and I'm starting to really not like Rose's Dad.). And opened my mouth to say an equally rude "What?" but was disrupted by the sound of a familiarly old voice breaking the really awkward silences.
Alfonso. Thank Merlin. Maybe he'd be able to inject some sense into this situation.
"What is going on here? Why where people yelling just a few minutes ago? Ronald? Rose? Was it you two shouting in here?" Turning around, I was relieved at the sight of the old man walking over us.
Finally, someone sane!
Alfonso, toddled over to us with a bemused expression on his face. I wonder why.
He seemed quite surprised to see a tousled, red-head girl staring confusedly at an equally red-head man who was gawking open-mouthed at an equally tousled blonde kid. The scene's pretty normal looking.
You know, in a soap opera.
He broke into a smile though, when he saw me standing there. And that is the reaction I expect at the sight of me. I much prefer this usual one.
"Scorpius lad, what's going on here?" Alfonso sidled up to me and casually, put a hand on my shoulder.
At the sight of my obvious camaraderie with the bookkeeper, Rose's dad's (Ronald. Got it.) eyes popped out even more, and his face started turning a little green. (Hey, it can turn different colors. Like a rainbow. Now if you could make it blue…)
I glanced at Rose and saw her eyes widen a bit in recognition, but she was still frowning at her Dad with utmost confusion. I wouldn't blame her either. He's been staring at me for like 3 minutes, it's getting really uncomfortable for me. I mean, he didn't even break his gaze when Alfonso came in, or maybe he did, but it was only for a second, because when I looked back, he was still staring at me with eyes the size of walnuts. Weird, doesn't even begin to cover it. I stepped back to let Alfonso observe him, but Rose's Dad's eyes were still glued to me.
"What's wrong with him?" Alfonso asked curiously, and even lifted his hand to, what I assume, poke him but stopped midway. I would have poked, if I were him. But I guess Alfonso just has more etiquette.
Tilting my head to the side and putting a finger on my chin, like a doctor studying a mental patient. (Something not that far off in this situation, I guess.) I replied slowly. "I don't know. He's catatonic."
I wonder if it would be okay if I kicked him. Just to, like, wake him up or something.
As I was studying him, Rose rolled her eyes at us and walked up to her Dad. "Daddy? Can you hear me?"
Well he should, he's standing right next to you. I wanted to yell out while Alfonso started asking Rose what happened. That was when I realized something about Rose's dad.
You know, I'm starting to think I saw him before. Like maybe in a picture or something. Because he looks freakishly familiar.
Unfortunately, all my previous musings flew out of my head when Rose waved a hand over his face and Rose's Dad (I can't say, Ron. It feels weird.) finally snapped awake.
Because the words that came out of his mouth was that surprising.
"Malfoy?!" Woah geez, thank god I wasn't standing next to him at that moment or I would have like crapped my pants. And how does he know my name? Weird, I mean I know parents like to know who their children are seeing, but this is just impossible. How'd that happen?
The three of us jumped back at Rose's dad's exclamation/accusation (God, you'd think I killed his brother or something.). The other two more hastily than I did, seeing as they were standing right beside him when he decided to wake up the rest of the Northern Hemisphere.
Alfonso being the older, thus rustier of the two had a hard time resetting his malfunction, creaky heart and was wheezing while I rubbed his back. (I don't know how that even helps for him, but hey it's like universally known as the 'Are you alright? I am a caring person. Thus, I care for you." Sign.) Rose, still clutching her heart, or the place over it anyway, asked gently. "Dad? Are you having a school flashback? Are you alright?"
Alfonso's the one who's having a breakdown. I wanted to point out, but stopped when I realized that I didn't need to pat him anymore. He was pretty much restored. And kind of alarmed. Great, what was going on now?
Rose's Dad stuttered out this time looking at Rose and Alfonso as if he was trying to warn them of serial killer in their midst or something. "M-Malfoy!"
It seemed like he was calling me, so I just went along with it and stepped forward.
"Yes?" I ventured innocently, and resisted the urge to add in a 'sir'. We're not in the army, no matter how much of his spit flies on my face.
But for some queer reason, Rose's Dad wasn't the only one who was surprised at my verification. Rose stared at me, dumbfounded, as if I just conked her on the head with a beater's bat. While Alfonso was watching me with wide eyes that peered through his wrinkles. And those are some serious looking wrinkles, so he must be surprised.
Now I was the one being stared at. For what reason? I doubt even the universe can make sense of, right now.
"What?" I asked irritatedly, now I'm getting annoyed. You'd think one of them would have enough manners to not be so gawkish. They are British.
"You're Malfoy?"
"Um, yeah." Rose's eyes widened, and were now probably in risk of falling out. So I had to say urgently. "So?"
Great. More silence. If this was a movie, then I'm pretty sure I'd be able to hear crickets in the background. I was almost waiting for someone to yell out "hahaha, Gotcha! You shoulda seen your face. Hey, thanks Rose, you're a great actress. Al, you're kinda stiff, but hey, we messed with him in the end, so whatever. Ron, dude you should totally audition for like movies! The look on his face when you yelled out 'Malfoy!', priceless!"
But I doubt that'll happen, because well the director I imagined had like a normal American accent. So I doubt the person popping in would say those exact words. Or if they did, I would laugh hard. At him.
So yeah, probably not happening. Sad really, because it would kind of explain all the weirdness right now. Sorry, I babble when I'm edgy.
And the silence that followed was amazingly uncomfortable, thus making me edgy. I mean, I know it's a really horrible name, but come on, this is too much. Usually people are past this stage right now. Usually, they're on the floor laughing in the first 2 minutes. And you know it's uncomfortable when you would prefer having everyone laughing at you over this.
Thankfully (or unthankfully. I don't know, a lot of things are grey in my mind right now. Must be the extreme confusion.) Rose's dad broke the silence, turning to his frozen daughter and shouted as furious as ever. "You hugged a Malfoy!?"
"I didn't know he was one, before!" Uh what? I was expecting a "We were saying hello?" or even a "Nothing else happened!" but she's defending herself from my name? Out of all the things? What did my name do to her? What's that even supposed to mean?
Rose's Dad would glance at me every so often and look at me like dirt every once in a while, as if the first time wasn't painful enough, and I was getting pretty offended. Why was he looking at me like that? And what is up with their name phobia?
And why wouldn't Rose look at me?
God, this is so confusing! What the hell is going on, here? I wanted to yell out as they continued yelling at each other (the kind of "Are too! Was not! Are too! Kind of petty thing.) and I couldn't help turn to Alfonso with a big WTF question mark on my face.
But the guy wouldn't look at me, too, I realized. My insides, started feeling cold as if someone was slowly pouring water down my back. His eyes were everywhere but mine. Alfonso didn't even seem to want to be around me, now that I faced him. Like he was slowly inching away. Call me crazy, but it seemed like he didn't even want to be around me now that he knew my last name. That thought sparked a small and disbelieving fire of fear in my stomach, because as weird and insane as it was, it seemed to get truer by the second. Alfonso wasn't on my side anymore. And I didn't even know there was a side to choose. Or even expect in that matter. Alfonso, looked almost well, ashamed. Like ashamed that he knew me or something.
God, okay seriously, what the hell it going on? I tried to say it, but strangely enough, when I opened my mouth to speak, my voice just switched off. So I just screamed it in my head and hoped the look appeared on my face.
I wonder if the portkey was a time-turner, that like transported me centuries into the past, where my Dad was young and looked like me. It would clear up a few things, because judging my Dad's personality now, he doesn't strike me as the popular type back in his day. Or even the likeable type.
And it would explain how everyone already knew who I was, because duh, they're seeing Dad, not the improved version. And I do look an awful lot like him. Unfortunately.
Seriously, what's the matter everyone? What did I do wrong? It's as if I just suddenly up and said "I am the reincarnation of Voldemort! So blame me for all random, past transgressions!" And it's not like I met them before. So why was Alfonso treating me like I just stole his books catalog or something.
"Is that my wand?"
Oh yeah, because I sort of did. Damn it! Why do these things always come back to bite me on the ass? I can actually feel my mental rear end. And it hurts.
I couldn't help watch in horror, as Alfonso walked over to the fallen wand and picked it up holding it up to the light to inspect the damage. And believe me, was there damage. Damn, so that was the crack I heard back when Rose and I were wrestling.
You remember how I said I felt like someone dumped a bucket of water down my back? Well imagine that the bucket was actually a truck. And instead of water, it was ice. With wriggling eels. And instead of my back, it was down my stomach. Yes, that was what I was feeling, right at that moment. As if someone gave me a truckload of eels and ice to dry-swallow and I could feel it squirming in my intestines.
A small 'aw, crap.' came out of my mouth as my eyes registered the fact that the piece of wood hung together by about enough splinters for me to count. Man, was that thing busted. It would definitely need some spell-care, if a reparo wouldn't do anything. It wasn't broken in two, (I mean, all the pieces were there and even kind of still together. So maybe that's why I didn't notice it before.) But it was still there. The crack that is.
It wouldn't have been a big deal, I guess if I asked for the wand in the first place. Because a lot of my friends, had wand problems and all they'd do was send it to the shop and bada bing bada boom, few seconds later, presto! Fixed Wand! But that's the thing, I didn't ask. So not only did I break his wand.
I broke his trust. So yeah, aw crap seems pretty fitting now, dontcha think?
"How did this get here?" Alfonso quietly asked, as he thumbed the splinters with a gentle finger as if he was trying to press it inside. Rose and her Dad were starting to lower it down a bit, and I sort of wanted to tell them to continue their shouting match. Because then at least someone would be yelling. Honestly, I would have preferred if he shouted, instead of looking at me with such a dangerously, quiet disgusted look on his face.
I looked at my shoes when replied in a small voice that I had used it to find a book, so that I didn't have to see that expression on his face again.
The silence that followed it wouldn't have been worse if the Red-heads hadn't decided that now would be a good time to shut their mouths. And here, I didn't think it was possible for them. God, they have the worst timing ever. Why can't they have any consideration to start shouting they're heads off?
So now the calm that settled around us was the type you felt when a storm was coming.
And man, was a storm a brewing.
"How did this happen?" Alfonso broke the silence with his eerily calm voice. Oh come on, just yell already. It'll make you feel better; it'll make me feel better. Heck, I think it'll even make the Red-heads feel better; they probably can't live with a normal decibel conversation anyway.
I almost said this out loud, but told Alfonso instead about how I must have fallen on it at one point in time when Rose was banging a book over my head. And it's true, I guess I must have stepped on it when I wasn't looking, and I didn't look for it afterwards.
I left out the part where I straddled her and rolled around, because it was bad enough two people were disgusted with me, I didn't want to give Rose a reason hate me as well.
I didn't get the laugh that I was hoping for when I finished my story, though. But strangely enough, by the time I finished my story, Rose's Dad seemed pretty pleased to hear about the fact that she bruised me with a book. And he seemed pretty proud of his daughter, if the admiring glint in his eye said anything. You know, I'm starting to think that Rose's Dad has it in for me, because that guy is cold.
Or has some major priority issues.
A few moments of silence had passed, and I felt about all the main internal organs drop into my stomach (metaphorically, of course. Because I dont want to gross out the only people nice enough to stay with me.) as the realization that I was probably losing a really good connection, slowly started to sink in.
When Alfonso finally spoke up, he was looking at me shrewdly and coldly. It looked like he considered the words pretty carefully to find the right ones to humiliate me further, so I wasn't that surprised to hear him say frostily. "That's funny. I don't remember lending you my wand in the first place."
I could hear someone gasp from among the Red-heads, and when I turned my head, Rose had her mouth open and was looking at me with an expression of disbelief, while her Dad's was a look of pure contempt. Which was pretty overreactive, I mean, I stole Alfonso's wand and broke it, not yours. Geesh. Rose's Dad had no right to look at me as if I was the dirt on his shoe.
I'm really not liking Rose's Dad, right now. Like at all. And by the look of almost undiluted hatred, it looks like the feelings mutual.
Great, I've barely spent two days here and I've made enemies with a guy that looked old enough to be my Dad.
I could feel my face flush (in the record of like 20 minutes. Impressive I have to say.) in embarrassment and muttered softly. "Yeah, I sort of borrowed it when you were working at the counter. I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to break it, I swear!" I added the last sentence with as much fervor as I could muster.
But apparently, my sincerity isn't enough for the likes of them.
"You stole it!" Rose's Dad broke in incredulously; he looked pissed off and at the same time victorious as if it proved I was a horrible person. See, I knew he had something against me. But seriously? Why? What did I ever do to him? I barely even touched Rose, so I doubt her virtue is threatened. God, you know, Rose's Dad is a real ass.
"I borrowed it! Geez, you make it sound like some sort of federal offence." I couldn't help spitting out at Rose's dad.
"That's because you borrowed it, without my permission." This time it was Alfonso speaking, and I was caught off guard to hear the angry tone in his voice. I know, I was sort of silently wishing he would blow up, but well I didn't mean it. Seriously, think about it, is there anyone out there who actually means it when they say they want someone to yell at them? Someone who's like not a saint or had a messed up childhood? Yeah, get real.
I faced Alfonso who was looking at me oddly for the first time, kind of like how my principal would look at me when I did something bad, but wasn't admitting to it even if it was dead obvious. I tried to keep myself calm and assured, so that I'd be able to sift through the right words easily. And I really tried to apologize, like put everything I was feeling into my sorry speech.
"Alfonso, I'm sorry. Seriously, I am. I'll do anything, I'm not sure if a simple reparo can mend it, but I'll get my wand. Worst comes to worst, I'll pay for the damages if we have to take it to the local wand sho-"
I was cut off by Alfonso saying so quietly, I almost missed it. "Don't call me that."
"What?"
"Don't call me Alfonso."
He might as well have said "Save your breathe, kid, for someone who actually gives a damn." Or sucker punched me. They both would feel the same anyway.
It was as if a great big wave suddenly crashed on me, diffusing all my confusion and defiance. I guess it was because of the fact that Alfonso was on my side just a few seconds before, like I could count on him to back me up in this whole crazy ordeal, but I should have read the signs sooner because right now, I felt cold all over like someone just dumped a big bucket of ice down my back while I was still shivering from the cold. I couldn't even feel angry at Alfonso for embarrassing me in front of a live audience. I just felt embarrassed, sad, ashamed, and kind of betrayed.
And I didn't even know what for. A small little piece of stick? No, I had a feeling it went way deeper than that.
I managed to mutter a small, inaudible ok. It was the exact size I was feeling right now. I looked at my hands instead, because I couldn't bear to look at their cold and judging faces, and tried to say in a louder voice. "I'll pay for the damages, sir."
"No, I'll take it to the Ollivander's myself. Money can't buy everything back." Alfonso spat the last sentence back at me, causing me to involuntarily cringe. Why'd he have to sound so…cruel? I wanted to curl up and disappear right now, the humiliation was starting to get too much. "I need to go back to the front of the store." Shaking his head, he did another once over then walked down and out of the aisle. But not before saying softly, but still audibly.
"I guess I shouldn't have expected anything less from a Malfoy."
Those eleven words shocked me as much as the hating tone did. And I began to feel the small sparks of confusion light up. What? Why? How? Half formed questions flitted into my mind and settled themselves into a numbing circle of disbelief. God, what was going on? I could feel everything, every single flash of perplexity and panic, but I just couldn't find the words to fit it. I felt like I woke up finding myself under the sea with a plummeting amount of oxygen, confused and disoriented about how I got here in the first place. All my limbs wouldn't work and the only thoughts that were working at a normal pace were all questions, like "What the hell?" and "What is going on?" I couldn't even say anything right, not to explain, and not even to make sense of the situation. It was as if I was paralyzed with mystification, and everything was slow and crazy. Seriously, what the hell is happening?
What the hell is going on in here?!
My feet were firmly planted on the ground like roots in clayey soil, so I highly doubt that I could move them if I wanted to. But before I could summon the will to run away. Rose and her Dad beat him to it. I watched as if through a screen, unmoving as Rose's Dad turned around (I didn't want to see Rose's face, yet.) and led his daughter away from cautiously, as if scared I was going to spring up and sneeze on them to spread my disease or whatever. He didn't even look back at me the entire time. As if I wasn't even worth it.
But Rose did. I had no idea what was going on inside her head, as the girl turned her red-head and looked at me over her shoulder, before turning her head back. But it was enough, I saw the eyes filled with distrust, doubt and pity.
That look snapped me out of my funk. I did not need her pity. I did not want that bitch's pity. She just stood there the entire time letting me take the blame for everything. Rose wouldn't look at me before that, and when she finally did, it was to show her final look of mistrust and embarrassment. Embarrassment for ever even touching me, I bet.
Well guess, what? I don't want her pity. Actually I think, I'll be very happy if I don't look at either of their faces for the rest of my life.
She was partly to blame for all this, but she just switched off the moment I said my name.
And as if the last few words in my head reminded Ron about everything that happened, he said in a perfectly audible voice, as I glared at the retreating backs.
"See what did I tell you, Rosie? He's just like his father." Then followed quickly by a small thump and more resigned version of his voice. "Honestly, Rose, would you watch where you're going?"
What? My…Dad? What the hell does he have anything to do with this? I was filled with such shock and anger at them for even mentioning my Dad, that I was paralyzed again. On the spot.
I was left there blinking wildly at the spot they were last in before they disappeared into the front of the store.
I found my voice too little too late, however. Because the moment I opened my mouth to say those 'special' words (ahem, and not the nicest words I had in my dictionary, mind you.) they went down an aisle and out of view. Geesh, can't someone up there just cut me some slack for like 5 seconds? I just suffered public humiliation and betrayal; you'd think they'd at least give me like a minute of good timing! God!
Seriously, I had half a mind to chase after them and demand answers. But I didn't want to go just yet, because that incident wasn't the quietest, and they were at least 20 other people in the proximity. I flushed at that thought of my more public, public humiliation. And I also wasn't sure if The Reds were the right persons to tell me. I wasn't sure if they even had the answers I was looking for. (Which wasn't saying much now, I was pretty much only sure about my name at this point.)
Actually, I was beginning to have a sneaking suspicion that my Dad was the one I should ask.
Nothing made sense anymore, I wanted answers and I wanted them now. But I knew that those…red-heads, wouldn't have the response I was looking for. And I bet they wouldn't be too stoked if I suddenly pounced on them and demanded them to explain what the hell was going on.
I had the feeling that there were only a couple of people could shed some light in this extremely confusing disaster.
But it didn't mean that that made anything clearer, either. It just gave me something to do. And well, jumping blindly ahead isn't exactly my forte. Well not most of the time anyway. I like to simmer in my pitiful, messed-up thoughts before I do something, thanks. So yeah, guessing that my Dad had a weird past wasn't exactly giving me a high.
If anything it just made everything more confusing as ever. Seriously, what the hell is going on? Why are people treating me like that? I thought as I practically ran out of the store into the pouring rain, and I wasn't unaware of the hateful glares sent my way. Not all of them could have a stick far up their butt, so they must have heard.
And most importantly, what the hell just happened?
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Okay, this is a pretty short chapter. Well compared to the last one anyway. Didya like it? Didn't? Don't worry, I'm not just rambling at this point and posting whatever purple prose that comes to mind, most of the stuff are actually entwined with the storyline. So it's not just some random weird occasions I throw together, well once in a while it is. But I have a storyline and I will stick to it. Hope you guys liked it. I am proud to say, no sleepless nights for this one, and pretty impressive seeing as school started like a couple of weeks ago. But yeah, don't hate Rose too much, or do, a lot of Scorp's feelings are coming out in the next chapter, so you'll probably not like her that much sooner or later. Don't worry, she has her reasons. The future chapters will explain everything!
Honestly, I have mixed feelings for this one. I guess, my hope for around 3 chapters before the Hogwarts scene is out the door. There's too much to cover. Sorry!!! But yeah, there's gonna be a lot of stuff happening in Diagon Alley, so head up! I'm actually rushing and pasting events together. Turns out, I had to tweak some stuff, because I keep on changing some lines. I know, some stuff are pretty random but yeah, hopefully the next chapter would put those little tidbits to good use. And it's on it's way.
I'd write more to explain and I think I missed the shout out, and sorry, sorry, sorry and sorry. But I'm pretty disoriented right now. And like practically sleeping while sitting. So I'll just probably write an early entry and post an author's note. SORRY GUYS!! I hope you guys at least enjoyed this chapter. You know I love you readers, thanks for everything, you honestly made me go on with this. Alerters, Reviewers, Subscribers, you guys are awesome! But I'll be a little biased and say that reviewers are the best. But you guys are great all the same. Scorp is too busy sleeping (lazy bint.) so yeah, I'll rap this up. Thanks you guys and see yah in a bit.
~Ms-drooling-on-the-keyboard