Sorry I couldn't update sooner. My computer went all funny on me.

My AWESOME-TO-THE-MAX reviewers of chapter twenty-four:

fruityloops156

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MeetVirginia

XxRed-as-a-RubyxX

xXxFredWeasleyForeverxXx

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DragonWand

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You guys are amazing! Keep reviewing!

Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Five: Airplane

XxXx

"Everyone, stick with their partners!" called Professor McGonagall over the loud noise of the muggle airport. With their luggage already loaded, the students were now in line waiting to board the plane.

A little tug of nervousness began in Marley's stomach. She'd always disliked heights, but she wasn't sure how she'd react to an airplane. The last time she'd been on one she'd only been a baby, too young to understand what was going on.

All too quickly Fred tapped her on the shoulder. Marley looked up to see that they were at the front of the line. She'd been so caught up in her fears that she had no memory of moving forward.

Fred and Marley gave the lady their tickets, moving on to a tunnel like passageway to enter the plane. Marley's heart was hammering now, and she felt a quick jolt of panic, and she had half a mind to stop and run the other way, but Fred being beside her calmed her nerves.

She took a deep breath, and walked on, but her legs were still shaking.

Once they reached the door to the plane, Marley's panicking had come back. She took deep breaths as approached the plane's open door. She looked down at the space between the floor of the passageway and the plane, and hesitated.

"Marley, are you all right?" Fred asked, placing a hand on her upper back.

"Yes, I'm fine," she managed to say, stepping quickly over the gap, and into the plane. Fred followed, but since he was so tall, whacked his head on the door frame. He swore quietly, touching his forehead gingerly. Marley put her hand over her mouth to hide a giggle, but he still heard it, giving her a playful glare.

"It's not funny," he whispered as they made their way down the small aisle, looking at their tickets for direction to their designated seats. "Where are we supposed to sit again? I can't remember."
Marley studied Fred's ticket, along with her own. "Ours are near the back. They say 25. See?" She showed Fred the tickets, and he nodded.

"Why are these aisles so bloody small?" complained Fred, quickly dodging a lady with a huge, leopard-printed handbag. Marley just laughed, seeing their seats a few rows back.

"Here we are," she exclaimed, setting her traveling bag down on the seat closest to the aisle. "Do you want the window seat?"

"Sure." Fred slid in first, and then Marley. The seats were four across, so they waited patiently for the other two people to find their seats too.

"Have you been to Romania before? You know, because of your brother?" asked Marley, trying to distract herself from the rising panic she was experiencing.

"A few times, but this year we went to Egypt. Dad won a contest at work," Fred told Marley about his adventures in Romania, and she listened, glad for a chance to take her mind off her worries. "We tried to lock Percy in a tomb, but Mum caught us before we could."

Marley laughed. "That's a shame," she noted. "Maybe someone a little nicer would've gotten the job of Head Boy."

Fred was about to respond when the other two people came to their seats. Marcus Flint and Jonathan Cobalt stood sneering down at Marley as she looked up at them, her eyes wide with fear.

"Hello, Bennett," Cobalt spat, sitting down next to her. "How was your vacation?" Flint guffawed from the other seat, and for some reason, Marley's eyes filled with tears.

Fred gently touched Marley's shoulder. "Marley, switch seats with me," he whispered, getting up as well as he could in the small plane.

"Oh, little Freddie's defending his girlfriend. How sweet," cooed Flint, cruel amusement flashing in his eyes.

Fred's hand curled into a fist, as if he was getting ready to punch Flint. Marley, now where Fred had been sitting, grabbed Fred's arm.

"You'll only make it worse," she said urgently, but she managed to get through to Fred, who was still scowling when the plane lurched to life.

Marley's heart was beating wildly now, and she gripped the arms of her chair until her knuckles were chalk white. As the plane began to pick up speed, Marley closed her eyes, willing herself not to scream. Apparently, she hadn't gotten over her fear of heights.

"Marley, you look sick," commented Fred, looking at her with worry.

Marley gulped. "I'm fine," she squeaked. "I-I just don't like heights very much."

Fred nodded in understanding, and his warm hand gently slid on top of hers. Marley looked up at him gratefully, but he was looking the other way. There was a small smile on his face, like he had just heard a clever joke.

Marley's heart slowed to an almost normal beat, and she began to relax once more, Fred's hand on hers making her feel safe.

After they had been flying for about 15 minutes, a waitress came by and passed out snacks and drinks, but Marley gave hers to Fred. She wasn't hungry.

Marley kept glancing at Flint and Cobalt nervously. Flint wasn't paying attention, and reading the Quidditch Monthly, but Cobalt was caught her gaze and raised his eyebrows, an amused smirk appearing on his face.

Marley quickly looked back at her lap, folding her hands for something to do. Her hands were sweaty, and her panic was returning. Marley looked up at Fred, who was looking at her.

He smiled, but it faded when he saw the look on her face. Fred looked over at Cobalt and Flint, but they had made themselves busy looking in the other direction.

His gaze returned to Marley, and his hand once again slipped over her own.

Alicia was not a happy girl. Katie and she were sitting near the front, and Katie had wanted the window seat, so Alicia gave it to her. Then, the other two people who were supposed to sit in their row showed up.

George and Amanda.

George's eyes widened when he saw Alicia, but said nothing. Amanda, of course, wanted the aisle seat, so George and Alicia would be stuck sitting with each other for several hours.

The first hour was alright, because no one was talking. Katie was looking out the window, Alicia was reading a book, George was reading the Quidditch Monthly, and Amanda was talking to a girl in the seats across from them.

Then, things took a turn for the worse. Someone passed their seats, and nobody paid any attention to it, but on their way back, the person stopped. She cleared her throat, and made George, Amanda, Alicia, and Katie look up.

Cho Chang was standing there, hands on her hips, and she was looking directly at George. "Oh, I see you've moved on already, have you?"

"What?" asked George in confusion.

"Please, Weasley. Don't play dumb. I know you just want as many girls to fall for you as you can, and then break their hearts!" she cried dramatically, attracting the attention of many nearby passengers.

George now looked fearful. "Cho, I didn't…I mean who would…what are you-"

"Save it! One minute after we break up, you have two new girls clinging it you! How pathetic," she yelled, her voice getting higher and higher.

Alicia had had enough. "Cho, go back to your seat," she said lazily, looking back to her book.

That made Cho really mad. "You have no right to be talking, Spinnet. You follow George around like a pathetic little puppy."

Alicia's eyes widened, but she kept her mouth closed.

"I see the way you look at him: always hoping he'll look your way…"

Alicia's hands slid to her seatbelt buckle, undoing silently.

"…And he'll never love you back, you're just a kid to him. Did you really think that-"

SMACK!

Alicia had jumped up from her seat and slapped Cho across the face as hard as she could. Its force almost knocked Cho over, and when she recovered, a whole side of her face was an angry red, and her eyes glistened with tears.

Alicia stood tall, staring Cho down. Everyone else just sat there staring, with their jaws on the floor. Alicia Spinnet had just slapped Cho Chang, one of the most popular girls in school.

"You'll pay for this, Spinnet," Cho whispered so that only Alicia could here, and then walked back to her seat.

Alicia sank back into her own, her hand throbbing. George was staring at her, along with Katie and Amanda, but Alicia ignored them all.

She sat in her seat, staring at her feet, until sleep soon overcome her, and her head gently lolled to one side, landing gently on George's shoulder.

He didn't put in any effort to move it, and that's how they stayed for the rest of the plane ride: George looking down at Alicia with a small smile on his face, and Alicia asleep on his shoulder, breathing softly.

Needless to say, George was more than disappointed when their plane landed.

XxXx

There were a lot of comments about Cho needing a good slap, and I agree. So take that, Chang! Alicia's moving in!

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