CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
MY CHOICE
I shove the letter into my robes pocket and feel a weight lift off of my shoulders. My Mum isn't mad. And they know now. James will be pissed that his plan backfired. All that's left is to tell everyone who my boyfriend is ... easier said than done. Rikki comes waltzing into the hall a second after I put the letter away. I wave to her but she doesn't see me. Instead she goes straight to the bottom of the table to sit with James. I laugh and shake my head.
"That seems to be going well." States Mel.
"Yeah, they've been out once and now she's already abandoning us. Speaking of which ... do you mind if I leave. I'm sorry, it's just that Caleb and I had an argument yesterday and I want to see if he's waiting for me." I'm only half way through my sentence when Mel waves her hand dismissively.
"Sure. I'll just read over my notes for a while. Professor Lambforth wasn't exactly pleased with my Muggle Studies essay on Thursday she says sarcastically.I get up and walk out of the hall. I stop outside our broom closet and take a deep, calming breath. I listen at the door for a minute, to make sure nobody else is there, and then I walk in. He's there. Leaning against the back wall his eyes closed, his dark hair messy, like he's been running his hand through it. Those violet eyes snap open as soon as I shut the door behind me.
"I'm sorry." We both say at the exact same time and then laugh akwardly.
"Brown-eyes, don't be. I'm sorry I tried to presure you into telling people. I know you love your family, you don't want them to be mad at you, and I get it. So we can just forget I said anything. I heard your fight with James yesterday-"
"Didn't everyone." I interrupt sarcastically. He ignores me.
"Are you OK?" He asks, concerned. I grin widely.
"I'm great. My Mum and Dad are fine with it, Caleb. I think ... I think you're right. We should tell them. I'll tell everyone at Christmas."
"Really," He asks, and his face lights up, "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely. Never been surer." I say, though I'm not sure if it's true. And then he kisses me. And like all the other times it's the most amazing feeling in the world. Nothing compares. And I'm sure.
"We, uh, have t-to get to class." I stutter breathlessly when we finally pull apart.
"Um, yeah. Right. Bye Brown-eyes." He nods and leaves. I exit the closet a few seconds later. The hallways are empty and I know I'm late for class. Again.
"Miss Potter." Professor Felix says when I walk through the door. The whole class is staring. "Do you mind telling me why you were late?" Usually Professor Felix loves me. She's my favourite teacher. But I've been late so often recently that she's bound to get mad.
"Um I was ... in the library." I tell her.
"Ah yes, just like you've been in the library most mornings these days. Any particular reason you were in the library this early?" She asks, feining interest. She's trying to catch me out.
"Er, Reading Professor." I say, trying to act normally.
"What book?"
I hesitate for too long. She knows I'm lying.
"Stay behind after class Miss Potter, I would like a word." I nod and she gestures for me to sit down.
After class I wait until everyone has left the room before walking over to her desk. I'm surprised that she doesn't look mad.
"You've been late a lot recently, Lily. Is everything Ok? This really isn't like you." She asks me.
"No, I mean yes - everything is fine. I'm sorry I was late."
"Lily, sorry doesn't cut it anymore. Now, do you want to tell me where you really were this morning? Or I'll have to punish you." But I can't tell her. Because I don't want to be that girl. The one that cuts class to hook up with her boyfriend. As soon as I think that thought, though, I realise I am that girl. Oh Merlin. I shake my head.
"No? Then I'm sorry Lily, but you have detention. Come here right after dinner, you can clean cauldrons. Without magic." She tells me. I don't protest. I leave the room and head to Herbology. God, now I have to explain to Uncle Neville that I was late because I was busy getting a detention. And then he'll tell my parents. My Mum might not care about me having a boyfriend but if she thinks he's distracting me from my school work that's a different story.
I walk as fast as I can, practically running, to the Herbology huts outside. It's bitterly cold. I expect it will start snowing soon. I open the door to Hut 1, panting slightly.
"Lily? Why are you late?" Asks Uncle Neville.
"Sorry Unc- Professor. I was,um, just talking to Professor Felix." I tell him. It wasn't a lie. Thankfully he let's it go.
"Ok. Just go stand over there." He tells me and points to the space next to Hugo. This is one of the two classes we share. Herbology and History of Magic.
"Hey." Says Hugo, "What were you talking to Felix about."
"Nothing." I say. And then pretend to be really interested in what Uncle Neville is saying. After class I have to stay behind to clear up our table because Hugo buggered off without helping.
"Lily?" Asks Uncle Neville. I get a bit of a fright because, honestly, I had forgotten he was standing there, "Why did Professor Felix hold you back."
"I, um, was late to class." I tell him, looking everywhere but him.
"Oh. Did you get into trouble?" He questions, concerned.
"Uh..." I try to think of an excuse, really I do, but in the end I just can't lie to Uncle Neville. He's just such an honest man, I would feel so guilty, "Yeah I did. I got a detention. Please, Uncle Neville, Please don't tell my parents. I promise, it won't happen again."
"Ok Lily. If you're sure it won't happen again then I see no need to tell Harry or Ginny about this. Do you want me to talk to Professor Felix about it, I could-"
"No. No, no, no. It's fine." I tell him. I then rush out of the hut before he can I ask me why I was late to class in the first place.
But as I walk through the crowded halls, trying to find Mel or Rikki so I can spend the morning break complaining about my detention, I am dragged by my wrist into a dark corner, behind a statue. At first I expect it to be Caleb. But I'm wrong. Standing in front of me, her face unmistakable even in the shadowy corner, is Hailey Frocker. An evil smirk is plastered on her makeup-clad face and a feeling of dread creeps up my stomach.
"What?" She says at the look of shock on my face, "Not who you were expecting?"
"What do you want, Frockler?" I glare. She has the audacity to laugh.
"What do I want? Well for one thing I want your family to stop pulling their childish pranks on me. To stop turning my hair blue, and making my dinner go off, and to make me speak French all day. But that's not why I wanted to talk to you. I've decided that I've been a little bit mean. I outed Louis and Melody's little relationship without asking if it was ok first-"
"Since when do you care about being mean?" I spit.
"Tut tut. Don't you know it's rude to interrupt people when they're talking. So anyway, I thought I would give you a choice. I won't do any more Potter/Weasley-related articles until after Christmas, but when I do ... who's secret would you rather I reveal? Your dream boy's identity ... or Molly's little accident." She whispers, mockingly. I feel my mouth pop open. I try to speak but my mouth is dry, "Oh yes, I know about that. I know about everything. Spies are everywhere, Lily-pad. They could be your friends, your family, even your Caleb."
"You're such a bitch." I hiss angrily, trying not to cry with anger.
"Shhhhh. No need for foul language, darling." I pull my wand out and point it at her in a way that says I mean business.
"Oh Lily," She laughs. "I wouldn't try that if I were you. It'll be in the paper before you can blink. So remember, you have until the first day back after the holidays. Pick one ... or I'll reveal you both." And then she saunters off. Head held high, and her heels clicking a little tune as she walks.
