A/N Warning: Kinda cute moment with Fred incoming! I hope you like this newest installment of The Color of Magic!
Urgently, I looked him in the eye, trying to tell if this was some weird joke. But no, he looked completely serious. Glancing down, the hair I could see was black. Black! Not sunrise-colored anymore! I couldn't stop a smile from spreading across my face, baffling Fred even further. The familiar shifting was back and the void was gone! For a few moments all I could do was smile from relief, tears forgotten for the moment. "Er, Alexia? Are you going to answer my question or just sit there smiling at me?" At this, I realized what a dope I must look like. "Oh, right. It's just that you've solved one of my problems." This obviously didn't make any sense to him, but he just rolled with it.
"Okay, then," he replied with a confused face. "That didn't really answer my question, but I'm happy to help…I guess. But seriously, how do you keep changing it so quickly?" Crap, I can't tell him the truth; he'd reject me! Excuse time!
"Um, magic?" I answered, perhaps a little too quickly. This wasn't the answer he wanted, but we'd had this conversation before; he knew he wasn't going to win. This fact, however, didn't seem to deter him in the slightest. "Well, obviously that's what you used, but why?" he challenged. "Maybe I just felt like it." That sounded weak, even to me, and I knew that he knew that I knew it (if that makes any sense). "So basically, you came in here, curled up in a ball in the corner, started crying, and decided to mark the occasion by turning your hair black?"
"Sure, let's go with that!" I said brightly. The look of incredulity on his face at this was almost comical. "'Sure'?! Oh, no, that is not good enough, Alexia," he shot back with a hint of frustration because he was getting nowhere. I was getting tired of this subject (more like scared I'd let something slip), so I replied, "Look, I'm not going to answer satisfactorily and you know it. Can we just move on from this topic, Fred?"
"Okay," he answered, altogether too eager for my tastes. "Mind telling me why you're avoiding your friends?" Ah, that's why. But, really now! The only topic I didn't want to talk about, and it's the first one he picks. "I…can't tell you." One of his eyebrows rose at this, just like I would have done. "Why not? Is it because you don't trust me?"
"No, of course it's not that!"
"Then what is it?" he asked, going right into forbidden territory.
"Geez, Fred, why do you have to ask all these questions? Can't you just pat me on the back awkwardly like a normal guy and say 'Don't worry, it'll be alright' and all those other things that you're supposed to say that never work?!" The eyebrow went up further, and even I heard how guilty that sounded. "So basically, you don't want to answer my question or have your problems solved, and would much rather wallow in misery?" I actually considered saying yes just to see his expression, but I sensed this wasn't the time. "No, that's not what I mean or want, but I really don't want to talk about my friends at the moment." More like I don't want him to find out about how selfish I am.
"And why is that?" He was starting to get on my nerves. "Why do you think?! I've obviously just had a falling out of some nature with my friends that caused me to cry my eyes out. This is not the time to go poking around in my wound with lemon-juice-covered hands by talking about it."
"I'm not sure that's an actual phrase, Alexia. And that's a really gross image you just gave me," he said with a bit of his joking spirit back. "But, back to the point, talking about it will make you feel better. Come on, I just want to help you! I wouldn't be here if I didn't." Well, he did have a point there. Sighing, I gave in.
"Fine. It's just…I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want you to know how selfish I was. My friends Max and Melanie have started dating and-" "Yeah, the girl who you were running from told me. I'm assuming she's Melanie, right? How were you selfish?"
"When I look back on the last few months, I realize how obvious it was, them being together. But I, being so wrapped up in my own little world, didn't even notice it until they walked into the common room early this morning."
He face-palmed loudly, making me jump a little. "You can be so stupid sometimes. You do realize that they were trying to hide their relationship, right?" he said, bluntly stabbing me with his words.
"And you realize that I'm still emotionally unstable, right?" I asked, adding a quaver to my voice. I wasn't really unstable; I just didn't want to be called stupid. His eyes widened a little, probably realizing that he didn't say that in the best way, but he stood his ground and didn't apologize.
"They didn't want you or anyone else to know until they were ready to tell you themselves! Now they think you hate them or something! Whatever your problems might be, you handled that in the exact wrong way. Besides, the only obvious reason to them that you would hate their relationship, besides them not telling you, is that you like Max and are jealous of Melanie." Shock coursed through me, making my eyes go wide. "What?! Ewwwww, that is so gross! How could they even think that?!"
"Well, what would you think in their place, huh? I guarantee you it'd be the same thing," he shot back with a grin and a little…was that relief? "Stop smiling! This is a serious matter of the utmost importance," I declared, pushing myself up and heading toward the door, determined to talk to the two of them. "Hmm, curious," Fred responded. I stopped on my way to the door and turned with a confused look on my face, wondering what he meant. He gazed at me with an amused expression. "What's curious?" I asked, not sure if I really wanted to know that answer because it would doubtless lead to more ribbing.
"Nothing, really. It's just funny how fast you went from 'emotionally unstable' to 'completely stable in every way'," he replied with an air of keeping-himself-from-laughing. It was my turn to raise my eyebrow now, and I did so without hesitation. "Oh, really? Maybe I'm just awesome that way," I countered, hoping he'd buy it. He pushed himself up off the ground and dusted himself off.
"Is that so? Strange, I don't think I noticed it in you before. Must be a new thing with kids these days, extreme emotional flexibility," he answered smoothly as he caught up to me on our way to the door, definitely hiding sarcasm somewhere in there. Nope, he didn't buy it one bit. Giving in, I slumped my shoulders in defeat and said, "Yeah, yeah, okay. I just didn't want to be called stupid, alright?" He nodded wisely, that darn dimple beginning to show. "Third years know all. Don't forget that, young one," he replied sagely. That one earned him an elbow 'playfully' in the side. As he doubled over, I skipped out of reach of his arm, which had shot out, trying to grab me and return the poke. "Did you know that was coming? I guess not," I taunted him. "Actually, I did know you would do that, I just didn't say anything about it," he countered. "And it's not like you could do better, Alexia."
"I find your lack of faith disturbing, young padawan," I replied dramatically as we turned out into the hallway. This one earned me a bemused look; Star Wars was a foreign concept in the Wizarding World. "Never mind, it's a Muggle reference; you wouldn't understand."
"…Anyway, let's go see your friends and get this whole mess straightened out before first period," he said after a moment of silent confusion. "Right," I responded. "That's my first priority right now." I check my watch and then did a double-take. "Oh no, wait! We barely have an hour! I need to get my bag from Ravenclaw Tower." A chuckle burst out of him, surprising me. "Oh, what are you laughing about now? It had better not be me!" I challenged, knowing full well that it was me he was laughing at.
"Too bad; it is! You have the attention span of a squirrel! 'It's my first priority! No, wait, this is!'," he laughed, and my indignant expression only made it worse. I harrumphed and tried to walk away from him like I had with Draco, although this time I actually wanted him to catch up and keep talking to me.
"Wait, Alexia, I'm sorry," he apologized as we reached the marble staircase and started climbing up to my common room. However, he was still laughing at me when he said that and I decided to make him work a little for his apology to be accepted. Suddenly, without warning, I bolted up the stairs and left him in the dust.
"Hey! I said wait, not run away!" Because he'd been surprised, he unwittingly gave me a head start, but it wasn't that big of one. It also wouldn't last because his legs were longer than mine, just like Draco's were. I was barely 5 steps above him and the gap was quickly closing. Hey, at least this way, you'll get to the common room quicker to talk to Max and Melanie, I reasoned. This thought caused me to slow for a second, which gave Fred an opportunity to gain two steps on me, leaving barely any gap left, he could probably reach out and grab me if he wanted, but he was too busy pumping his arms while he climbed to do that. Come on, Alexia, you started this and now you have to see it through to the end, I encouraged myself, trying to go faster.
We had just reached the flat ground of the landing in front of the door to my common room when he did manage to grab me. I felt powerful arms wrap around me from behind, pulling me into a bear-hug. You know, I hadn't really noticed how tall Fred was until this moment as I felt him towering behind me; he could put his chin on top of my head no problem. His breathless voice laughed my ear, "Got you! What on earth was that for?" Do I even need to say that I started blushing? Not that I was going to let Fred know I was blushing, heaven forbid. He wouldn't know that this was anything other than a regular hug to me, not if I could help it. It did feel nice, though…No! Stop that, Alexia!
As he released me, I turned around with a smile, hoping he would blame my flushed face on the fact that I'd just pounded up maybe 10 flights of stairs without stopping. "Had to make you work for your transgression to be forgiven, didn't I? You were still laughing when you apologized for laughing! But thanks for 'walking' me to my common room, anyway," I panted, casually stepping around the hugging-me part. He took a look around and nodded approvingly. "Very nice common room you got here. Cozy place," he declared.
"Um, Fred? It's over there; I still have to go through the door, remember?" What a weirdo, I thought affectionately. "Ah, yes, the door. Tricky thing, isn't it? I heard it asks you questions instead of using passwords. Is that true?" Nodding my head, I walked over to the door and knocked to demonstrate.
The beak on it opened and asked musically, "Where are people before they are born?" Fred stared with fascination at it, just like I had on my first night. His face was lit up with wonder reminiscent of a child. He looked so adorable that, for a moment, I just stood there looking at him.
Now, about the question. It seemed pretty straight forward, but there had to be a second meaning because the door would never ask this simple of a question. Surely it couldn't be what I thought it was? Well, I'll just give it a go with what I have.
"They're in the womb as a fetus?" I said, hoping I'd make it in. It'd be really embarrassing to be locked out of my own common room in front of Fred. "Technically correct!" it chimed and the door unlocked. Technically? Hmm, maybe there was another viable answer? Turning to Fred, I said goodbye and had almost entered the common room, but he quickly interjected, "Hey, Alexia, er…are you, I mean, would you, um, like to..." I glanced back at him and he was standing awkwardly, inspecting the ground intently with his hands shoved deep inside his pockets. Is he nervous? "Yes?"
"The first Quidditch game of the season is Gryffindor vs. Slytherin and I-I was wondering if you were going?" Oh, yeah, it was coming up soon, actually. But why was he asking? I thought that everyone went to these games. "Of course! Why wouldn't I? It'll be exciting!" He looked rather more relieved than I was expecting.
"That's bril-er, cool, I'll see you there, then," he replied. "Wait, why did you think I wouldn't go?" I asked as he turned to walk away. "Well, I didn't know how popular Quidditch was in America, so I thought maybe you wouldn't come," he answered.
"Oh, okay. And, just for future reference, it's popular in America too, but not as much as here," I joked. That earned me a half-smile that almost made my heart melt. He gave me a casually salute with two fingers as he walked back down the hallway. Now onto the hard part, I thought with an inward grimace. I had to face Melanie's tearstained face.
The door was still open, but just barely, so I pushed it open further and entered. There were kids draped all around the room, on couches and in comfy chairs. A couple of students were gathered around two people playing chess. A whole lot more were doing homework with intense frowns or, more commonly, had the paper sitting in front of them and were staring at it with dreamy expressions on their face like the one stuck on mine all the time.
Max and Melanie were nowhere to be found, but that didn't stop me; I couldn't let this tear in our friendship continue for any longer. I couldn't look in the boy's dormitory, but I could check in mine. Now that I was so close, I almost lost my nerve. What if she doesn't forgive me? What if they hate me?
No time like the present, I mentally pushed myself up the stairs. My dorm room was on the right-hand side, the second door down. Standing outside the door, I mentally prepped myself and then pushed open the door.
Melanie was sitting, huddled, on her bed and Jessica was next to her, attempting to cheer her up but appearing to fail miserably. They both looked up when I entered and both of them adopted guarded expressions. Taking a deep breath, I walked over to my bed and sat down on the side closest to Melanie. Neither of them said anything and I knew that I would need to have a freaking amazing excuse to pull this off. Thing was, I didn't have one. Fred had been right; I had handled the situation in the exact wrong way and now I had to apologize.
"I have a long list of excuses I could give you, and many of them are pretty good, but I'm not going to say any of them. You deserve better than excuses." She and Jessica's expressions started melting a little, but they were still pretty frosty, which was to be expected. "And I know it sounds really cliché, but I-I'm sorry. I handled the situation in the exact wrong way. Do you…forgive me?"
There was silence following this, a silence that I didn't really like, but wasn't completely cold or malicious. Melanie stood up and walked over to me, leaning down to stare closely into my eyes. They were still a bit red-rimmed, but other than that, I didn't think there was anything in particular that she would be looking for. What was she doing?
After a moment, she straightened up with a small smile. "You're telling the truth, then. Yes, I forgive you. But I do need you to answer a question for me first: why did you run from me?" Despite how casual her voice sounded, her eyes betrayed a world of pain, all because of me. It was really tempting to turn away, but then I would never be free from that look.
The story of my exercises in the bathroom, getting stuck, general mayhem, and two crying scenes ensued. I tried to skip over the overly emotional parts, but Melanie didn't seem to appreciate my abridged version, so I stopped trying to. I decided to leave in the conversation with Fred to give him credit for giving me insight into the situation. She and Jessica exchanged a significant look when I told them about the hug and Fred asking me to the Quidditch game, a look that didn't go unnoticed by me in the slightest.
"So, you're a half-meta? I'm sorry, but this story just seems…a little astronomical, if you catch my drift. Jessica, did her powers really get stuck?" Jessica nodded fiercely and replied, "Oh, you bet. I even screamed at her while she was asleep to wake her up, but she didn't faze in the slightest. It was still that wacky color explosion." Hey! I worked hard on that 'wacky color explosion'!
"Well, I can't argue with that. So that's why you were down in the common room when we walked in, and that's why you ran out. But why, when you finally came down to the Great Hall, did you run away from me? You still haven't answered my question," she grilled me.
I rubbed my face and tried to put the words together in a way that wouldn't make her mad at me. "I thought I was selfish for having not noticed you and Max's relationship before when it's kind of obvious now that I look back on it-" Melanie cut me off in the middle of my sentence, "Was it really?"
I made a noncommittal grunt and did that little seesaw motion with my hand, the one that means 'kinda sorta'. She frowned a little, probably wondering how she and Max could have hidden their relationship better. "The fact that you two were always together was kind of a give-away, if you ask me, but it's not like you could avoid each other when you're dating," Jessica pitched in. I nodded, thinking the same thing. Melanie nodded with understanding.
"Huh. Funny, I thought me were pretty good at hiding it," she said thoughtfully. "Oh, you were, but looking back, not so much," I offered. Before we could continue talking about ways Melanie could have better hidden her relationship, Jessica jumped up and yelled, "WE ONLY HAVE 20 MINUTES!" Our first class was Potions, so being late was not an option. Our books, parchment, and quills were randomly tossed into our bags and we raced from the dorm, scattering the few students who were still in the common room. "Hey, watch where you're going, first years! You nearly knocked over my Muggle Movies project!" Oh, this is too perfect to miss, I thought right before I hollered back, "Hasta la vista, baby!"
A/N Most of you got that reference, right?