Disclaimer: Though I wish I did, I don't own Harry Potter.
A/N: I love you guys! Thanks for reviewing (I still do like constructive criticism.) I'm glad you guys like my ideas and my story, so here's the next chapter!
Chapter 21
As it turned out, the rest of the week was pretty easy for me. Sure, half the time my mind was elsewhere, but I wasn't as bad off as James. Molly, the girl he had asked out, convinced herself that she was his new girlfriend, and wouldn't leave his side, unless absolutely necessary, she even came to the prefects meeting. James didn't look to happy about the arrangement, but he put a smile on just for her, and me as well, but not for the same purpose.
Justine, my Valentine, was really nice and we had a great time together. He, unlike Molly, was in Ravenclaw, so we weren't always around each other, which was fine with both of us. We gave each other sweets for Valentines, little magical candies, and he gave me roses. He was sweet (no pun intended) and we had a great time together that week.
We studied and did homework together, went on walks around the castle, we actually kissed a couple of times, one of which was in front of James. I started to feel bad that I was kind of using him. Then I put my mind to it that I didn't care what James thought, I would do whatever I wanted with Justin. After that I eased up. I didn't feel guilty, because I wasn't using him anymore, we were having a good relationship.
The week passed, I felt better. Yes my parents had been murdered by Voldemort, but there was nothing I could do about it now, and I was going to live life as it came, as I know my parents would want me to. I will never forget them, of course, but I can't let grief consume my life.
Soon came Saturday. The most wonderful day of the week, rest and relaxation. And Hogsmead, this time at least. I was excited, I didn't want to make it all romantic and fluffy, but a nice date, shopping around and having fun.
Turns out we did have a lot of fun, but not much shopping happened.
I'll start from the beginning:
I woke up, excited for the Hogsmead trip, getting hyper on sweets and all that good stuff. I got ready quickly, and met Justin in the Entrance Hall. James happened to be there with Molly, I could tell he was struggling to show as little interest as possible, but as soon as he saw me he hid that.
Justin and I left the Hall, holding hands, and set off for the village.
The weather was perfect, only a few clouds, and the temperature was refreshing. The sun was still low in the sky, but it slowly climbed to it's peak.j
We decided to go and get a small breakfast, save room for the sweets, and then to Honey Dukes for some candy. After buying the candy we headed out on a walk and enjoyed each other's company as we ate and talked. We stopped in front of the Shrieking Shack, I thought of Remus and how the full moon was coming up in the next week. Justin told me his idea of why people heard screaming at night.
He thought it was the ghosts of Hogwarts. Claiming to have seen them approaching one night, he thinks that they came just to scare the village.
After he told his thrilling tale, he asked me what I thought about it.
"I, uh, I've never really thought about it before, I-" I started nervously, not wanting to give away Remus' secret.
"Hey." I heard Remus walk up to us.
"Oh, hey Remus." Think of the devil.
"What are you two doing?" He asked casually.
"Talking." Justine said simply.
"He was explaining what he thinks the haunting is." I said.
"Really?" Remus said, "What do you think?"
"Well..." Justin was happy to explain it again, stretching truths and making it sound very convincing. "Lily was just about to tell me what she thought." He said after he finished.
"I don't have any ideas, truthfully." it was true, the weren't ideas, they were facts.
"What about you Remus?" Justin asked.
"I don't know, your tale sounds very convincing. I always thought there was something in there trying desperately to get out, shrieking and screaming in pain." He stared at the falling down structure.
"Interesting theory." Justin said slowly, really thinking about it.
Remus left to go catch up with Sirius at Zonko's, leaving Justin and I alone again. We left the Shack and headed back into the village. We stopped by Honey Dukes to stock up on candy for until the next trip down. After that we went back to the school for lunch.
We went down by the lake, sitting under a big oak tree by the shore. We sat there for about an hour talking and gazing over the lake.
Finally, my conscience kicked in and reminded me of all of my homework that I had put off. I reminded Justin and he agreed that we needed to go and do homework.
We headed back to the castle and separated, I went to Gryffindor common room to get my bag of books and Justin went to the Ravenclaw common room to get his book, we agreed to meet in the Library. This arrangement reminded me of how James and I had broke up.
Ten minutes later I was in the Library, working on my homework and waiting for Justin. After a half an hour Justin still hadn't shown up. I started to get worried after forty-five minutes. I remembered my first date with James. Could James have done something to Justin, maybe he just got distracted. I got so worried by an hour after I couldn't concentrate on my homework.
I put my books back in my bag, only having done half of an essay. I looked around the Library first, wondering if he was just waiting for me and we had missed each other. I didn't see him, but I did see Sirius. It made me suspicious to see him in the library.
"Have you seen Justin?" I asked him.
"No, and if I did, I probably wouldn't tell you anyways." He shot sourly.
"Okay." I said, walking out of the library. From my rounds I knew where the Ravenclaw common room was. It took a while, but I found it. I walked up to the door and it asked me a quesiton, which I was not used to so it made me jump.
"Where do Vanished objects go?" the door asked.
"Huh?" I said, taken aback, "oh, uh, well into nonbeing, right, so that's everything." I answered, confused.
"Very nice." the door swung open.
Inside was the Ravenclaw common room, which was much different than the Gryffindor common room, the only similarity was that it was full of students. I glanced around, hoping to see Justin. I asked a few students if they had seen them, a few claimed that he had left about an hour before.
I panicked, yeah, I know, kind of hypocritical, but I was worried. James was mad at me, and he was one of the Marauders, Sirius didn't sound to happy with me either, probably because of the issue with James, or he was just sour. Two Marauders were mad at me, and my date was missing, this did not look good. Right now would have been a good time for me to have the Marauders Map, but I highly doubt James would let me borrow it for just a few minutes.
I searched the castle for about an hour, going to the library periodically. I didn't find him anywhere. Finally I decided to look in the Gryffindor common room, in case James had kidnapped him. I walked into the common room and immediately noticed the four Marauders looking at me, then look away quickly. I knew something was up.
I took out my wand and went casually to the other side of the room. Flicking it I silently did a summoning charm for the invisibility cloak, that's what James had been under. I heard a swish as it flew towards me and revealed my Valentine. Right in the middle of the Marauders, petrified on the chair.
I walked over and removed the charm. He stood up and hugged me, relieved that I had found him. "Hmm," I said, "looks like I got a prize from your little prank." I said holding up the cloak and I walked out of the common room with Justin close on my heals. I heard the Marauders groan as we left.
"Oh, my gosh!" I finally turned to Justin, "Are you okay?"
"Now, I was afraid they would lock me up forever." he said, completely serious.
"I'm so sorry, Potter is an idiot, he won't do it again," I hoped.
"Yeah, about that, I'm sorry, but I don't think we would ever be able to do this again, Potter could do it again, and he... well, I just don't think we should see each other any more." He said, sorrowfully.
"I completely understand, I was about to say the same thing." I said, putting a good face on.
"I'm glad you see it that way." He said.
"Bye Justin, it was good to get to know you." I said, turning back to the portrait hole and feeling like I was going to cry.
"Likewise." Was all he said before he left.
A single tear fell off my cheek, finally I had felt good, but Potter had taken that away from me, a second time. Now I wouldn't ever talk to him again.
I brushed the tear away, determined to be strong, pulled my bag on my shoulder, clutched the cloak in my hand, and walked back into the common room, willing myself to just go on.
As I passed the Marauders on my way to the dormitories I threw the cloak back on James' lap, not saying a word and not even looking at their faces. They had taken away my peace and basically my happiness, now I didn't care what they did.
I walked up to my dormitory, buried my face in my pillow, and cried.
A/N: aww... now i'm depressed. Sigh, hoped you liked the depressing chapter, i'm not even going to look over it. Please review!! (can you believe I did 3 days in a row with chapters! After like a month of not doing any! Woohoo!! go me!!) now push that little green button on the bottom of the page and tell me what you think!!!