Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble-- A Next-Generation-Harry-Potter Tale.

PART II: Not Alone

Chapter 12: Roxanne Weasley, Fred and Liz and Peter Owen

Roxanne Weasley

Fred and Liz and Peter Owen

"It's okay, Liz," Elle whispered into her ear. "It's okay."

"I wish I'd said yes," she sobbed, stuffing another Pumpkin Pasty into her mouth. "Why didn't I say yes? I'm not even going with anybody! And I love Fred! And now he probably thinks I'm the biggest prat to-"

"It's okay," Lu said, feeding her another Pumpkin Pasty.

"No it isn't!" Liz wailed. Harper Jordan, who was obsessing over the next Gryffindor match, looked up startled at the noise from her DADA Homework. "It's not okay! I was so mean! I was such a git! Why didn't I just say yes! I'm so stupid!"

"Stoppit, Liz, or you're gonna turn into Moaning Myrtle." I groaned. "It's all right."

"Roxi, he's your brother," she sniffled. "And I was so mean to him! Go on, tell me off."

"It's seriously all right, Liz," I said. "He'll get over it."

"I didn't even have any idea he liked you," said Rose bluntly, which made Liz burst into another round of tears. Lu stuffed another Pasty into her mouth to make her shut up.

"Somebody gimme my bat so I can whack myself in the head with it," she moaned. I quickly tucked her Beater's bat under the bedskirt with my foot. "Lizzy, it's fine." I said in what I hoped was a soothing voice. "Everyone forgives you."

I looked up from my sketchpad, where I'd been designing what I wanted my Masquerade Ball mask to look like. I was debating if I should sew tiny buttons around the edges or it that would just look weird.

Liz was basically a wreck. As soon as we'd gotten back from our final class, Ancient Runes, she'd kind of broken down. Her eyes were rimmed red from crying, and her face had that blotchy tearstreaked look of someone who'd just been bawling her eyes out.

Except she was still bawling her eyes out.

"Bathroom," I said. I needed to get away from all the nose. I got up and walked down the stairs, listening at the door.

"You don't think Rox is mad at me, do you?" Liz sniffed.

"No," said Quelle.

"Why didn't I say yes? Now that I think about it, I even LIKE Fred?" Liz sobbed.

Gag.

All of a sudden, the stair that my bottom foot was resting on seemed to melt away. I scrambled back onto the landing.

The stairs had turned into a sort of slick, smooth slide, and Peter Owen was sitting in a dazed heap at the bottom.

The stairs morphed back and I ran down them. Lots of people were staring. Ashley Faite was giggling.

"You okay?" I asked, giving him a hand.

"Yeah," he said, still looking like little stars were spinning around his head. He flicked his wand to make sure it wasn't broken and reddish gold sparks flew out of the top. "I guess I forgot boys aren't supposed to go up there. I was gonna say hi."

"Oh. Hi," I said, getting the distinct impression that I was blushing.

"Hi," he said back, laughing kind of nervously and scratching his head. Most people had stopped looking at us.

I thought I was gonna die when he lowered his voice and said, "Go to the ball with me?"

I blushed harder. Oh my gosh. "Uh, sure," I said, trying to smile without fainting.

"Cool," he said. "So I guess I'll see you at Quiddich?"

"What's that?" I wanted to say. Instead I said, "Yeah. 'Kay. Bye!" and headed up the stairs.