January ended with a small whimper as students found their attention diverted away from Ron's stunt on the platform and Ness's sudden disappearance from the latest DA meeting, and on more 'school friendly topics,'. Like Quidditch and the upcoming Hogsmeade.
Ness was completely disinterested at the idea of heading to the Quidditch game until he realized with a sickening lurch that Potter was no longer a player and would therefore have an easier time striking up a conversation with him.
Sure, Potter hadn't tried to approach him after their first Occlumency lesson. But that didn't stop him from grating on Ness's nerves as he silently watched Potter grow more frustrated with Professor Snape and Professor Kale who were doing everything in their power to make him focus on defending his mind.
He found himself leaving Occlumency early—Even with a slowly decaying Magicant he was still able to mentally defend himself—in a turmoil of anger and frustration with Harry at the dangerous eye of the storm.
It was a miracle that the hallways hadn't collapsed from the Omega Rockin' that desperately wanted to get free and destroy those his subconscious deemed enemies lurking around him. Perhaps he had the upcoming Hogsmeade to thank for that. Even though the castle was less…disturbing to stay in 24/7 thanks to his new friends, he couldn't wait for a chance to wander around the little village, chatting with his friends and watching the couples shopping or eating out at the small pubs and restaurants the town had to offer.
It was going to be great! Until…Ginny dropped two bombshells. Well, one, since the other one wasn't so bad. The first bombshell? Ginny's proud announcement of her joining the Gryffindor Quidditch team as the replacement seeker.
"So THAT'S what you've been doing all month!" Ness exclaimed, feeling greatly relived that Ginny hadn't been plotting his murder for keeping Nagini around.
"What else would she be doing?" Selvis questioned, looking a little stunned as Ginny flushed with embarrassment then scowled as Selvis added "I mean, besides plotting your death of course."
"Selvis I'm not going to kill Ness-," she started when Luna hummed, "I was sort of worried about that as well." Prompting Ginny to shoot the Ravenclaw a look of disbelief. "Oh, come on! Why would I murder Ness?!"
Ness glanced at Selvis who was nudging Nagini with his foot, unable to hear Nagini's grunts of, "Stop it. Stop it. I'm going to bite you. KNOCK IT OFF." As Ginny followed his gaze and spotted Nagini.
"Oh, right. The snake." Ginny stated, paling a little before shaking it off as Nagini grumbled, "Nagini has a name you know." Before she moved away from Selvis.
"Yes, the snake. The snake who…you know!" Selvis spluttered, rolling his eyes as Ness hissed, "Don't remind her! I don't need her joining forces with Paula to get revenge on people!"
"Paula's going to murder someone…?" Luna asked, smiling a little as Ness glanced away, "Someone's, most of Gryffindor and the teachers are on her list."
"Please tell me the toad is on the-," Selvis started when Ness deadpanned, "She's going first." And turned back to Ginny, "So er, Quidditch! What made you join?"
"And steal Perfect Potter's spot?" Selvis added, flinching as Luna tossed a pillow at his head, "Luna, that's Ginny's job not yours!"
"Sure,"
"Don't-," Selvis started, moving to throw it back when Ginny floated the pillow out of his reach and redirected the conversation, "I've always been interested in Quidditch, didn't have a chance to try it out before since the team was already in great shape but…" she trailed off, everyone remembering the reason WHY the Gryffindors needed three new team members.
"Well, I'll make sure to write a song in your honor." Selvis taunted, scowling when Ginny threw the pillow back at him and quipped, "Don't forget to add your defeat to the lyrics."
"Ooohhh…" Luna gasped, snickering as Selvis huffed, "Sure, if that helps you sleep at night." The two began bickering about song lyrics as Luna began warning him about the creatures to look out for on Valentin's day. Reminding Ginny of her second bombshell which wasn't so upbeat.
"Oh! Speaking of Hogsmeade, Hermione and I managed to get interviews with Rita Skitter and a reporter from Mystic Informer!" Ness paused turning to say 'great, what's it about?' when he remembered who Rita Skitter was and who's side Hermione was on.
"W…Why." He managed after a long moment of making sure he had the right Rita Skitter, "Why are you getting an interview from-,"
"A foul, no good liar who stirred up a lot of media chaos—oooohh." Selvis grinned and pulled Defe out who gave a small mumble of, "Oh…Are we spying on someone again?" as Selvis cautiously flipped through the book's pages.
His grin growing as he found what he was looking for, "Yup, Ginny's going to stir up media chaos for Umbridge by sharing the treatment of the students here, her theory of Umbridge being involved in the random fire that happened at Mystic Informer's New England office and her abuse against teachers while Hermione is spreading the news about Voldemort."
"Combined, this would throw the Ministry into a boiling pit of magma…" Luna mused, "Forcing them to take action against either Umbridge or the public."
"…Huh." Ness managed as Ginny shot him a nervous smile, "I've er, sort of been keeping in touch with them and Paula through Nagini," her smile abruptly faded into a scowl as Nagini slithered onto the table with an innocent gaze. "After she so nicely gave me a heart attack when we got back from break."
"Really Nagini?!" Cloak screeched as Nagini didn't even have the gall to look ashamed of herself, she merely sat up with a prideful little huff. "I wasss bored. Boredom isss dangerousss."
"Sending evidence, small testimonies from DA members—even a couple pictures thanks to Colin Creevy."
"Impressive." Luna managed thoroughly awed by her friend as Ginny flushed with embarrassment then anger as Selvis sniffed, "You, you are a true Slytherin Ginny, I'm so proud to have a carrot like you as my friend."
"Okay—Do you just WANT to die Karma?!"
"Selvis run, she pulled the last name card out." Ness warned muffling a nervous laugh as Selvis blinked in surprise, "I didn't even know she knew my last name."
"Selvis, we've been friends for two years, why wouldn't she-," Luna started a rare expression of genuine confusion as Selvis opened his mouth, paused at the wand pointed at his face and bolted from his chair screaming "You're still an honorary Slytherin!"
As Ginny yelled "And you're a dead SNAKE, Karma! Get back here!"
Ness could only watch with faint amusement as the game of murder tag evolved into a magical pillow fight, which got everyone involved once they got hit in the face with a random pillow. Even Sawdust and Bearable got involved despite Sawdust being unable to throw pillows and Bearable having too weak a throw to do any damage.
So, they helped by throwing out random status effects or being shields for anyone close to them. When dinner rolled everyone found the Great Hall filled with random pillows courtesy of Sweepy who stole the endless amount of pillows the Room of Requirement produced and 'hid' them to end the war.
Everyone stopped caring once a pillow flew in Umbridge's direction and clocked her square in the face, knocking her out for a good thirty minutes. Another miracle the students decided redirecting their as they focus on other topics, mostly about the upcoming Hogsmeade trip, Gryffindors versus Hufflepuff and the rumors of Ron somehow getting a date for Valentine's Day. It sounded very…interesting but Ness couldn't believe it as he listened in on two sixth year girls beside him gossiping about it. It HAD to be a rumor stirred up by the Christmas chaos he and Potter had created.
It was just…Impossible to believe! Sure, maybe BEFORE Ron had created a scene on the platform, he'd believe it, Ron wasn't…that bad if he wasn't angry…or murderous. But now? Most Gryffindors were a bit wary of him. Trying to wheedle information out of both parties to understand WHY a fight had broken out, Hufflepuffs were appalled since they believed the two groups—known as the Golden Trio and Chimera—were friends or allies.
And of course, once Hufflepuffs got an idea into their head they were very hard to persuade. At least they weren't sporting Weasley is our King buttons like some of the Slytherins were. Happily revealing in the fact that Perfect Potter's best friend had snapped and lashed out at the boy who had tried to protect his brothers from being kicked off the Quidditch team or worse, expelled.
Ravenclaw was mostly disgusted with him, seeing him as a student who didn't value Gryffindor's traits like every other house did and didn't bother talking to him. So, it was hard to see someone gathering the courage to ask Ron out and survive the simmer aura of anger he seemed to carry with him and the proof of his action seared into their peers' minds.
Ginny found the whole thing hilarious and almost choked on her dinner when one of the Ribbons' siblings told her about it. Prompting Sawdust to report that Ginny was scaring him given how badly she was shaking and her wheezes of collecting air and smothering her rambunctious laughter that was barely hidden by the din of conversation and silverware clinking against glass.
That became a topic highlight as they walked to Hogsmeade, bundled up in winter coats—okay robes but Ness hated them and chose to wear his down coat instead.
"Rose was 100% serious about it!" Ginny giggled, her gloved hands covering her mouth as she muffled a guffaw, "Said she'd overheard a Ravenclaw see a girl with Ron at the end of DA training!"
"Oh yea…I think he's going out with Edgecombe…" Luna mused, "She's Cho's friend."
"Oh! Oh!" Selvis exclaimed, "I've seen her! Sticks to Cho like glue, messy hair, reeaally quiet!"
"That's her, she used to be really lively and talked about her parents' relationship with the Ministry but she's quieted down a bit." Luna recalled, frowning at the sudden change as Potio murmured, "I think Herbo mentioned a girl bumping into the hot-headed carrot a couple times….they seem to be on good terms."
Ness relayed the message and fought a smile as Ginny almost slipped on a small patch of ice as she gave a strangled squeal of, "They've interacted more than once!?" and resumed laughing.
"She…must be very dumb. Or desperate for attention." Selvis concluded, snickering to himself as he joked, "Maybe Ron deemed her smarts a worthy candidate to be his queen!"
"Looks like it…I mean, Cho's dating Cedric and they aren't too fond of Ron…Especially not since Ness saved his and the others lives." Luna pointed out.
Ginny and Selvis's laughter sobered up as they glanced at Ness then at each other. "Oh yea…you did do that." Selvis murmured as Ginny frowned "Hopefully Cho isn't cutting ties with Edgecombe over it…"
"Ravenclaws are very fickle about who we befriend…and Cho's family is a bit strict on honor." Luna glumly stated, "Cho might stick around but if it gets official…"
"She'll be an outcast among her own house." Ness stated, feeling a small knot form as Ginny's mirth at her brother somehow landing a date officially died. Then came back to life as Selvis exclaimed, "I know! He's used magic to charm her!"
"Oh please! He's terrible at charms!" Ginny retorted, giggling into her hands again as Luna glanced at Ness then back at Ginny, "He's even worse than Ness?"
"I resent that idea." Ness joked, "Has Ron blown up an entire classroom trying to make someone happy?"
"…Well…" Ginny murmured, laughing as Ness playfully elbowed her. "Sure, laugh it up. But you won't be laughing when I actually get good at charms!"
Selvis rolled his eyes and scoffed, "Oh please, the day you get good at charms is the day snow starts to float back up into the sky-," Splat. Selvis froze then removed his hat, looking at the white staining his green hat. "Oh look. It happened." Luna teased, giggling as Selvis shook the snow off and snapped "It doesn't count if you use magic Lovegood!"
"What about hands?" Ness challenged, holding up a snowball as Selvis ducked behind Ginny. "I'm not a human shield Selvis!" Ginny retorted, trying to push him away as Selvis retorted, "You're a lion! And lions protect their friends!"
"Yes, friends! Not snakes!"
"So cold!"
"She's an ice lion." Ness offered, laughing as Selvis glanced at him with a wary frown, "You…you didn't fight those, right?"
"No."
"Oh, good-,"
"I have fought a living circus tent though."
"…I hate America!" Selvis loudly declared as everyone started laughing and picked up the pace to reach Hogsmeade, "So, what's on everyone's agenda?" Ness asked, he really didn't have anywhere he wanted to go and was content with following people around.
"I was going to pick up some more books for Defe." Selvis stated, glancing around with an evil little smile as he added, "And possibly spy on Ron's date."
Ginny started giggling again as Luna hummed, "I was going to Magic Neep, I'm running out of herbs to make my sleeping satchels."
"Shouldn't you go to Dogweed and Deathcaps?" Selvis asked, rolling his eyes as Luna huffed, "They don't sell herbs. Merely tainted potion ingrditions."
"Did someone switch your lavender out with a sobbing foxtail?"
"Several."
"I was going to head over to Sprintwitches Sporting Goods." Ginny explained, "I need a new pair of gloves."
"Sounds-," Ness started when Ginny cut him off, adding, "And Ness is going out on a date."
"…What?" he glanced at Luna and Selvis who looked just as surprised as he was as Ginny casually returned his blank stare, "I'm sorry, you. Somehow. Set me up. On a date?"
"Merlin's Beard he sounds so lost." Selvis whispered as Cloak and Defe began spluttering in confusion. Ginny simple gave a nod of her head and pointed up the street. Ness's brain completely froze over in shock as he spotted a girl with short blonde hair dressed in a pink winter robe, earmuffs and boots. She was studying the music shop with little interest before she glanced in their direction and spotted the three people gawking at her in stunned confusion.
"…Paula?" Ness managed as the girl's almost completely black eyes lit up and she began walking towards them. "Oh…It IS." Selvis breathed as Luna mumbled "So that's why you were asking me for an extra satchel…"
"Paula." Ness repeated as she stopped in front of them, her face a light pink from the Feburary as she adjusted a striped scarf wrapped around her neck. "Ness," she replied, smirking as Ness dumbly turned to Ginny for an answer.
"How…why…?" he started when a faint hiss whined, "Ssshe forced me to teleport here…Thisss isss ssssnek abusssse!"
"You…used." He didn't get to finish as Paula grabbed his hand and dragged him away, succeeding since he was so confused that he let it happen.
"Have fun!" Ginny chirped, her smile dimming as Selvis covered his mouth and said something to annoy her, probably deeming her a true Slytherin given by the wetness in his eyes.
He managed a smart, "Um." Before looking at Paula, the idea that he had been set up on a date finally registering in his slowly thawing brain as she returned the look with a smile.
"What? Is it against the law for a girl to ask a boy she likes out on a date?" Paula teased laughing as Ness felt his face explode with embarrassment, "Wha—No! No, there's nothing wrong about that but—wait you like me? Since when?!"
"Since we defeated Giygas." Paula deadpanned, laughing a little harder, "I even confessed to you silly! How did you forget!"
"In my defense I was still getting over the shock of us winning after almost dying, okay!"
"Uh-huh,"
"Honest! B-besides you didn't really bring it up much and- uh," he trailed off as Paula sent him a look to shut up. Right, he was probably digging himself a grave besides Potter's, Weasley's and the Toad. With a sheepish laugh he glanced around, trying to figure out where to take Paula to first.
"So…in the mood to see how wizards buy clothes?" Ness asked spotting Gladrags Wizardwear off in the distance. "No. But I have a feeling you're taking me there anyway since I have no clue where to go myself." Paula replied, sighing as Ness teased, "What do you mean? As a fellow wizard you obviously know what this place is!"
"All I know is that this town's name is very disturbing. Hogsmeade? Really."
"Says the girl from Twoson." Ness retorted, laughing as Paula cheekily retorted, "Oh like Onett is any better?"
"Hey at least we're On it!"
Paula gave him a long hard look as they stopped outside of Gladrags Wizardwear, "On second thought I lied, I don't like you and this isn't a date. It's a hostage situation."
"Nuh-uh! No take backs!"
"Keep it up and I'll pray—what is wrong with these robes?" Ness looked away from Paula, registering the warmth and the smell of fabric as he studied the slowly racks filled with tons and tons of robes. Some of them were labeled Night wear robes, Dress Robes, Casual Robes and ironically enough, Winter robes despite all of the robes having next to no difference in color or style from what he could see.
"If I pray, maybe God will take pity and torch this store to the ground." Paula breathed.
"It…isn't that bad." Ness tried, walking over to the winter robes and picking up a black robe with sliver fake fur. "I mean…I can sort of see someone normal wearing this." Ness started touching a fur cuff and yelping when it suddenly warmed up and almost burned him.
"What's wrong? Is it alive?!" Paula asked, reaching into her bag as Ness quickly back, grimacing at the tag that read 'Charmed to warm up your frozen fingers and nose with a simple touch!' he had missed in his haste to examine it.
"No, it's just charmed to warm people up." Ness explained.
"It sounds like it burned you." Paula pointed out, eyeing the robe with distaste but not reaching for her frying pan.
"It did, but charmed clothes and I don't agree much in the first place." Ness answered, giving a small shrug as he looked around, "Hey! They got wizard's hats!"
"Are they for winter or idiocy?" Paula asked, giggling as Ness replied, "It's to give people headaches Paula." And adjusted his baseball cap before studying a neon green hat.
"That is hideous." Paula noted, smothering a laugh as Ness stated, "I bet they stole it from that guy in Lucky Charms. Poor dude, can't eat his food in peace and now he can't wear his hat in peace." He glanced at a feathery hat and whistled in amazement, "I pity anyone with bird allergies."
"They would just, die from the sight of that!" Paula stated, pulling her sleeve over her hand to poke it before she spotted a wizard's hat made from silky fabric with a tag claiming it was a fancy night cap.
"They go to bed wearing these things?" she asked in disbelief as Ness bent down and checked out the shoes, noting how they ranged from simple to outlandishly crazy.
"Maybe? I dunno, I just put up with it until school breaks and Hogsmeade trips."
"Ugh…wizard fashion makes no sense."
Ness nodded in agreement and stood up, "You're telling me. We had this fancy school prom event and all the guys had to come in wearing 'dress robes' while the girls came in dresses."
"And…?"
"The dresses were called dress robes as well."
Paula gave him a long look before spotting a rack for Dress Robes. "Oh my god…"
"I know right! It's ridiculous!"
They snooped around the store some more, giving odd clothing pieces long looks of 'are you kidding me' such as the mood changing scarf and gloves and muffled guffaws at three seriously outlandish clothes, like the invisible robe. Advertising that now you can be a wizard even when you're in the presence of muggles!
"It's like the Emperor's clothes!" Paula exclaimed as they left the store, "Who wants an invisible robe!"
"Wizards of course." He replied, laughing as Paula rolled her eyes and grumbled, "Yes of course, silly me for believing that Wizards had something akin to normal."
"They are nothing but abnormal. Oh! Did I tell you about the Quidditch game that took place during Hurricane weather?"
"I'm sorry, but what?" Paula looked at him in disbelief as they wandered over to the sports store, "It happened, you could barely see anything and the winds were crazy but they still played!"
"Considering the fact that Ness, the Baseball nut is complaining about this. This must be crazy."
"It was." Ness assured her, opening the door for her as they stepped inside, their noses heavily bombarded by the scent of polish—probably for brooms-and newly made something that reminded him of brand-new baseballs and leather baseball gloves but not quiet.
Paula gave the store an unimpressed once over before she spotted the collection of gear labeled for Quidditch. "Why are they selling wooden bats for wizard football?" she asked, picking one up and turning it over, "Hold on, why are they called beater bats?!"
"It's for the beaters, they're the defenders of the team or something."
"They fight in the game?!"
"Sort of, they have two metal homing missiles and the beaters have to keep them from hitting their players. It's um…Football combined with soccer but with a magical gold ball that lets you win the game if you get it at the right time."
Paula gave him a long look, processing the information before she put the bat down and looked at something for Pegasus Lacrosse. "Ness. Sports make no sense."
"Uh…Isn't that sort of obvious for newbies…?"
"Yes, but I'm merely confirming it for those lucky people."
"Lucky—Paula!" Paula stuck her tongue out as Ness pointed out how Baseball was the American sport and it was a crime that no one knew about it! "Those people aren't lucky! They've been tortured and left for dead!"
"Not changing my mind on this."
"Oh, come on!" he shot her a playful glare at the Quidditch gear and waved his fist as Paula dragged him out of the store, "This time, I'm picking the store." She stated spotting a pink little store with tea cups and coffee decorating the sign. "That looks surprisingly decent!"
"Madam Puddinfoot's tea shop…?" Ness read, the name sounding familiar as Paula opened the door and froze at what was inside, "On second thought never mind!" she squeaked, moving to turn around and leave when she spotted a wicked grin on Ness's face.
"Oh no, we aren't leaving without snooping around!"
"Ness, no. Absolutely not! It's—it's hell in there!" Paula spluttered, yelping as Ness pushed her inside and stopped at the sight of couples kissing, playing with their food and sitting at gaudy tables.
It reminded him of the Toad's office. Yet much worse since there were flying gold baby angels throwing confetti onto the customers and staff. "…You should really stop saying God's name." Ness managed as a woman squeezed her way around the cozy couples to greet them. She was wearing a simple server's outfit with a frilly pink robe resting on her shoulders.
Pink confetti were sprinkled through out her wavy brown hair like sprinkles on a cupcake and a tired but forced smile was on her face, "Table for two?" she asked, reaching into her robe for a wand as Paula shot him a silent glare. "Ness, don't you DARE. I am NOT sitting in a frilly tea shop!"
"Why? Because it's frilly or because it's tea based?"
"BOTH. Ness. This place is giving me Happy-Happy vibes!"
"Well…" he increased his evil smirk as Paula's eyes widened and she began mentally hurling curses at him.
"Sure." Ness answered, muffling a laugh as Paula intertwined her arm with his and squeezed as if trying to kill him by removing the blood from it. "Ness, it's a little crowded. We should come back later." She sweetly managed.
"It isn't that bad Paula." He returned, his grin growing, "Sides, we'll just be resting until we have to meet up at the others at the Three Broomsticks. And we are on a date."
"You two are an adorable couple." The server stated, although she seemed intently focused on Paula's pink robes, probably trying to avoid their unsettling eyes. "Thank you." Paula managed, mentally screaming, "NESS DON'T YOU DARE!"
As the server lead them to a table at the back, handing them menus before rushing off to tend to other customers. "What?" he sweetly asked, smirking as Paula started stomping on his foot. Her murder attempts hidden by the pink table cloth as she smiled, "Just know, you're paying for this Ness."
"In damage or money?" Paula stomped a little harder on his foot in reply and shot him a warning glare.
"Think of it like this Paula, we're spying on the wizards in their natural habit and-," as he was speaking he made the mistake of studying the couples around them, prompting his words to be swallowed by a choked splutter of surprise and mirth as he spotted Ron Weasley making gooey eyes at a girl with bushy brown hair that was a bit darker than Hermione's.
"What? What are you looking at-," Paula started, turning to look when Ness glanced away and mentally wheezed, "Don't look! It's Ron!"
"Okay…? Are you worried about a fight or something?"
"No! No, it's not that! It's just—he has a DATE. Oh my gosh I have to remember this to tell Ginny!"
"Ness, he's a boy. All boys can get dates." Paula deadpanned, sending him a flat look "And even if he's a dense, jerk of a person he can still get a friend."
"Paula, half the school is uneasy about how to treat him since no one knows what his deal is with me other than him being grief crazy and taking it out on me."
"…That poor girl." He almost choked as Paula flipped through her menu and muttered, "Maybe they have some basic sweets to snack on."
"Y-yea, maybe." Ness agreed, looking at his own menu and wrinkling his nose at some of the goofy themed teas and cakes. "Good grief…Sweetheart Ginger Snaps? Love Potion with milk? Eternal cookies?"
"Don't forget the Forbidden love's chocolate cake."
"No wonder this place is so popular for Valentin's day…it's so cheesy!"
"Oh! Oh! They have a cheesecake called Cheesy feelings!"
"Really?" he turned the page as she giggled, "Okay this is a little funny."
"This feels like something out of a TV sitcom."
"Yes, a poorly done show." Paula remarked, glancing at the empty tea cups in front of them and wrinkling her nose at the pictures painted on the glass. The moving pictures of a beating heart that beat faster and faster when you pushed the cup closer to its partner.
By the time the server had some time to check on them they were happily entertaining themselves by having a dumb mental soap opera with the cups on the brink of exploding from how often they pushed and pulled them back.
"This is dumb." Paula stated, shaking from trying not to laugh as Ness managed a straight-faced order of Heaven's kiss cake, Cheesy Feelings and two glasses of strawberry milk. "And?" Ness challenged, biting his tongue as he pushed his cup towards Paula's and watched the hearts jump into overdrive.
"S-stop! We're going to create a scene!"
"Creating trouble is thy name milady."
"No, being dragged INTO trouble is thou name. I'm just a girl who gets kidnapped for no reason!"
"With a frying pan of death and destruction—Oh! I think we nearly blew them up!"
"Wait really?" they looked down at the tea cups just as someone said, "Ness? Is that you?" prompting them to freeze mid shove and look up to find the person who had somehow recognized Ness.
"Oh! Cedric and…Cedric's girlfriend!" Ness chirped, a laugh slipping through as Paula shot him a look, "Really. Cedric's GIRLFRIEND."
"Oh, like YOU know anyone here?" He challenged, kicking Paula when she sang, "We got Ron and the living bush so~," Almost making him laugh as the raven-haired girl leaning on Cedric smile and stated, "Cho Chang, I'm on the Ravenclaw's Quidditch team."
"And surprisingly a good player." Cedric stated, grinning as Cho laughed good naturedly, "Almost gave me a run for my money last time we played against each other!"
"Wow, lovers in flight I suppose." Ness noted, "Enjoying break at the love trap?"
"One could say that, we were just got here. How long have you been here?" Cedric asked, glancing around the busy shop.
"Long enough to create a soap opera with these magical tea cups." Ness stated, smirking as Paula kicked him and blurted out through a river of laughter, "N-ness! Don't tell them that!"
"Oh, come on! It's fun!"
"It's dumb and embarrassing!"
"And yet you're smiling." Ness retorted, turning back to Cedric and Cho who were a little surprised as Paula grabbed her almost forgotten coat and used it to muffle her laughter, "This is Paula Polestar, she's from America."
"Oh! Now I remember you! You were the girl Ness had to rescue from the Tri-Wizard tournament!" Cho recalled, giving Paula a kind smile as her shaking shoulders stiffened and she looked up. "Ah, I was hoping to go unnoticed since er…you know."
"Oh, yea…" Cedric tightened his grip on Cho, remembering the end of the tournament, "It's been so crazy lately…What with You know who's Death Eaters on the rise and our teacher stirring up trouble…It makes the fact that we could have all died in the tournament feel like a sick dream."
"It feels like a never-ending nightmare if you ask me." Cho murmured, her eyes growing stormy as Ness and Paula exchanged a look, "I mean, nothing make sense anymore. The people supposed to be teaching us to defend ourselves are nutters, the Government's ignoring the obvious crime on the rise and now Potter's group of friends is falling apart!"
"Speaking of that, why did Ron blame you for…what happened." Cedric asked, oblivious to the red headed boy who was slowly the group chatting in the back of the room. "Ah…" Ness fumbled for words as Paula tried to keep an eye out for Ron's moment of realization who was in the group and piece something together to create another scene.
"We sort of got into a disagreement before break." Ness started, figuring that fibbing would be best for everyone's sake. "It was something really small, I think over gifts? I gave Ginny a doll as a joke gift, since she reminded me of my little sister and I guess she was comparing it to a demon doll to her family before…the attack and Ron focused on that to have something to physical to blame at the moment."
"Grief can mess people up…" Paula interjected, her expression solemn as they remembered a certain being who had lost his mind thanks to his power and his family's betrayal.
Cho and Cedric glanced at each other, their expressions hard to read as Ness tried to make it seem like no big deal, "It's nothing, really. Ron's just upset and trying to work himself down. I'm sort of glad that he's found someone to bring on a date-,"
"Wait that was real?" Cho interrupted, her eyes widening as Paula—out of the loop and unaware of who the girl was—nodded and gestured behind her, "Seems like, they've been chatting over there and having a good time."
"Paula," Ness warned before turning to Cedric and making 'you need to leave' gestures, the Hufflepuff frowning in confusion and silently mouthing 'why' when Cho exclaimed "Is that Marietta?"
"What? You told me she wasn't feeling well enough to come to Hogsmeade." Cedric exclaimed, his eyes widening as he realized why Ness had been trying to get them to leave. Paula glanced at Ness in shock as he tried to think up a distraction topic.
"Ness, there is no good way out of this." Paula interrupted.
"But-,"
"If we deflect then we'll merely CONFIRM it's Marietta."
"How do you know?"
"Ness, have you ever listened to anyone who abruptly changes the topic when you have no clue why to do it?"
"…Touché."
"Unbelievable…she could have told me Weasley asked her out on a date." Cho exclaimed, looking torn between being angry or flat out heartbroken as Paula offered, "Maybe she didn't want you to worry about her, you know, because of the rumors flying around."
"As if, we Ravenclaws may boast about our trait of loyalty but I wouldn't abandon her over her questionable taste in boys." Cho huffed.
"Come on Cho…maybe it's not her-," Cedric started, nudging her towards her table as their food arrived. Prompting Ness to nervously wonder if they could do take out as Ron's smile dimmed then hardened, prompting the girl to look behind her and freeze at the two couples looking at her.
"It is her." Cho managed, her eyes widening then narrowing into slits as Cedric cringed, "So…it is." He managed as Paula wrung her hands, "Um…perhaps she didn't want to upset Ron? I mean, he and Harry are friends! Maybe she just didn't want to worry him about you and Cedric possibly going out and creating a scene!"
"Oh that is even WORSE." Ness mentally groaned, cutting into Paula's Heaven's love cake and shoving a mouthful into her mouth as she attempted to back peddle, "I was shutting up!" she protested, glaring at him as Ness took a sip from his drink, "Not fast enough! Oh geez, we're going to have to book it to prevent Ron from strangling me!"
"Really?! Surely he wouldn't-,"
"He attacked me on the train platform. Not bothering for subtly. He doesn't do ANYTHING quiet Paula!"
Paula grimaced and looked at Cho who pointedly turned to Cedric, "You needed a new helmet, right Cedric? How about we go there and come back later."
"But-," Cedric started when Paula and Ness shot him looks of, 'Go with it'. Prompting the Hufflepuff captain to kill his original argument and nod, "Sure, this place is a bit stuffy for my liking."
"Agreed." They got up, Cedric waving good bye as he followed Cho out of the café, her stormy eyes glowing with tears. Edgecombe spotted them on the way out and moved to get up but stopped with a sharp recoil when Cedric spotted her and gave a sharp shake of his head before pushing the door open for Cho and disappearing outside.
"Ness we should go."
"He's glaring at me?"
"Depends. I can't really see him but ah…I feel like I'm about to be attacked and that I should nuke something with Beta Freeze."
"Yup we need to go." Ness turned and waved over the server, "Is something wrong with the cake?" she asked, looking a little frazzled as Ness rapidly shook his head no, "It's fine but ah…do you guys do take out? And possibly allow people to book it out of the back exit?"
"What…? Why would you need to-," she started when Paula nudged her and said, "Do you remember severing a red headed boy and his date with bushy brown hair?"
"Yes, why-,"
"His date lied about sick to a friend who just left with her boyfriend and my date is on bad terms with the red head."
"…How bad." The server asked as Ness fished some money and a tip out of his pocket, "Um, did you hear the gossip about a boy being attacked on the train station by a fellow student?"
"Yes why—that was you and the red head?"
"Sadly, yes and I reaaallly don't want to be the cause of your tea cups death." The server blinked then pulled her wand out, magically putting the cake into two boxes as she straightened whispering, "Leave the money on the table, we have a backdoor near the bathrooms.
"Thank you so much." Paula stated, as Ness grabbed his coat and the boxed cakes,dropping some cash on the table. "Sorry for the trouble!" he apologized as he and Paula speed walked out of the café area. Hurrying down the small hallway that smelled like sugar and tea as they heard small yelps and snaps of disagreement from the café area.
"He better not be chasing us!" Paula exclaimed, pushing the door open and quickly closing it behind them as they turned and ran down the alley. "Well, considering how I haven't heard anyone yell-,"
"Earthbound!"
"NESS!"
"I'm SORRY!" they turned another corner as Nagini gave a sleepy groan of, "Ssstop running…I'm trying to take a nap!"
"Nagini! We need an escape route!" Ness snapped, "Ron is out for blood!"
"Can I-," Nagini started when Paula shook her dress sleeve with a frown, "Fine! Fine! Where to?"
"Um…Where you teleported Paula to! Hurry!" he grabbed Paula's hand as the world abruptly swam then snapped back in place. The pair now standing in the woods just outside of the village. "…Well then." He managed, gently placing the cake boxes down as he pulled his coat on, "You okay?"
"Peachy." Paula panted, rubbing her arms as they looked down at the village, "Think we have enough time to eat our food before heading down to that meeting Ginny was talking about?"
"…Probably." Ness decided, "I mean, she didn't say I have to come with her."
"Still, she'd probably enjoy the moral support." Paula argued, sitting down on the thinly covered grass and opening a box, "Oh, she wasn't able to pack forks."
"Does that really matter?" Ness asked. Sitting down beside her as Paula ran a hand through her wind-swept hair, "I mean, we just avoided murdering those poor cups!"
"…I actually want those cups."
"They were pretty cool…Maybe they sell them after Valentine's day."
"If so, you're buying me a pair."
"Two pairs."
"Why would you need two?"
"So, I can continue the soap opera. Duh."
Paula shook her head but a smile was on her face as she pulled a glove off and picked her slice of cake up. Ness opened his own box, grimacing at how messy his cake looked but brushed it aside as he picked it up and took a bite out of it, grimacing from the tingle in his mouth that indicated it was made with magic.
"Greeaaat. I escaped death by tea cups to be poisoned with magic." Ness whined, laughing as Paula choked on her cake and dropped it back into the box, "Oh god, THAT'S why my tongue feels all tingly!? They're trying to poison us!?"
"No! No, it just means it was made with magic and not by hand."
"So, poison!"
"Paula it isn't poison!"
"You're right, it's a stun ailment!"
"It's not that either!" Ness wheezed, leaning back as Paula huffed and stated, "Well it's something." Before glancing down at the village, "You know…for a magic based town it's quiet pretty."
"Huh…" he followed her gaze, taking note of how the afternoon sun made the village look like an everyday town you would see in a fairy tale book and possibly overseas. It looked…magical. But not because of handful of black cloaks and hats moving through the crowd of lighter dressed wizards, nor was it because of the pink sparkles floating into the sky from advertisements to lure in couples and hopeful singles.
It was magical because of the view from their private little perch. The atmosphere around them was tranquil, peaceful. Inviting him to push through the cold and recline a little, enjoy the view and trade dumb stories with Paula. Something Ness hadn't felt in ages thanks to the stress of nightmares and the Golden Trio.
"Yea…" Ness finally answered, "It's like…they're normal people, beings with destructive power that they use willy-nilly for everything."
Paula gave a slow nod, "It's amazing…I used to be envious of the wizards and witches in stories and fairy-tales but now…it just seems like a waste."
"Of time?"
"Effort. Maybe both. It just…removes some of the beauty of the world."
"Yea…learning that the things we dreamed about being real suddenly becoming real and being a giant killjoy…" Ness trailed off and gave a small chuckle, "Then again, I suppose the same can be said for PSI users."
Paula hummed in agreement and inched closer to him. His senses suddenly becoming hyper aware as he noticed the faint rosy hue to her cheeks, how her eyes sparkled as she admired the beauty of the small town and the faint content smile on her face.
"Had…. had she always been this pretty?" Ness wondered, feeling his face heat up as he focused on the village, trying to resume admiring the fairy-tale like aspects but unable to as Paula inched a little closer, her hand brushing against his and sending a shock wave up his arm.
"You…you know, we should probably go down and see if Ginny's alright." Paula voiced, although she didn't sound like she wanted to move from their cozy—albeit chilly—little spot separating magic from normality.
Ness forced a slow nod, "I…I guess…" he started before he corrected himself, "I mean, she'll probably need help dealing with Ron. Or, maybe Potter who's been was most likely informed by Ron about what happened."
"Yea…"
They didn't move, their hands now resting on top one another as they watched the sun slowly sink, casting faint shadows across the town. "…We're really terrible at keeping our word." Ness noted, laughing a little as Paula gently retorted, "I was waiting for you to get up first, Mr. I go to school here."
"Hey, don't remind me. Besides, the phrase is, ladies first."
"Oh, blaming me now?"
"Well, since I inadvertently ruined out dat-," Ness started to tease when his brain caught up to the moment, "Ah…Date. We were on a…" Paula blinked, her face turning a bright red as she laughed, "W-well, I guess we were. Or, uh, wasn't that what we were going for?"
"I…don't remember, I got distracted by the cups." Ness glanced at Paula then smirked, "Also your cute face."
Paula blinked, then exploded into a babbling bright red mess. Trying to defend herself against nothing as Ness threw his head back and laughed, "Oh my gosh! You look adorable! I've never seen you this flustered before!"
"S-shut up! It's not my fault a hot boy called me cute!"
"Hot? Wait, but I'm cold—oooohh." Paula smirked in triumphant as Ness exploded into a bright red mess and snapped, "S-shut up!" before burying his face in his hands as Paula laughed at him, "Can't take a compliment eh?" Paula teased.
"I can to!" Ness retorted glaring up and smirking, "Besides, I consider it a great compliment from a wonderful, strong young lady who doesn't need a prince to save her."
"Oh you—It's on Earthbound!" Paula exclaimed, her face now the shade of a cherry tomato as returned, "Even though I don't need a prince I enjoy your gentlemen spirit and how you always ensured I was okay! Made me feel like a princess sometimes!"
"A warrior princess? Since that's what you are?"
"Says the powerful guard who will kill anyone who dares hurt his friends and lady!"
"Ah, admitting that you're a 10 out of 10?"
"Only if you admit that you're the only one God won't smite when I pray for help!"
"That made no sense."
"Neither did you Earthbound!"
"Well it's not like anyone taught me how to flirt!"
"Isn't it—pff, a boy's job to be smooth?"
"Who was the one who kidnapped m-me on a date?" They looked at each other for a long moment, trying to swallow the urge to laugh when Paula's firm frown quirked up and broke the crumbling wall of willpower. They collapsed onto the ground, disturbing a light dusting of snow as they howled with laughter at their bad attempts of complimenting each other/flirting.
Man, they were terrible at this. "I-I wonder if anyone heard us?" Ness wheezed after a good five minutes of uncontrollable laughter, sitting up as Paula giggled, "W-who cares? They'll probably just think we're drunk."
"Aren't we?"
"Shut up Earthbound!"
"Of course, Polestar,"
"…That sounds so weird when you use my last name."
Ness smirked and moved to tease her some more when he noticed that the afternoon was slowly turning into evening "Oh geez…we actually have to leave soon."
Paula glanced up and frowned at the setting sun, "Time flies when you're being idiots I suppose."
"Idiots? Plural?" Ness smirked and moved to get up, "And here I thought you were the smart one."
"Being around you lowers my IQ." Paula deadpanned, getting up as well and yelping, "Ah! Sleepy legs! Sleepy legs!" and since they were on a hill Paula pitched forward, almost falling into a tumble when Ness lunged and grabbed her.
Problem solved, right? Wrong. Thanks to Paula being off balanced and Ness accidentally messing up his center of balance from the split-second fear of Paula flying down the hill they're momentum was jerked to the side and they fell to the ground, rolling down the hill for a bit before they slowed to a stop.
Allowing them to open their eyes and take note of the odd position they were in. Ness, was now hugging Paula who was on top of him, covered in light dusting of snow and dirt as her black eyes meet his. Frozen with surprise.
"Awkward~" But he could fix that, just ask the simple question of, 'are you alright?' and—"You look like an official princess now."
"…What?"
"You know, since you have frost in your hair and it looks really pretty with the sunlight and uh—I'm shutting up now."
Paula slowly blinked before dumbly stating, "You're missing your hat…And you look really nice with messy hair."
Ness managed a soft "...Huh." before he glued his mouth shut. The pair blankly looking at one another for a moment before Ness asked, "Should I let go now…?"
"…Maybe…This is…quiet nice."
Another "…Huh." before they resumed lying on top of each other. Reluctantly letting go and getting up when the sunlight began to creep away, reminding them of Ginny's and Hermione's interview which they were supposed to attend. Of course he doubted he could focus on that since his mind was whining at the fact that his nice warm and pretty teddy bear was gone as Paula looked up at the sky.
After a moment of studying the sky Paula turned to him, her face blank but with a deeper red hue to it as she spoke. "Ness,"
"Yes?"
"I think the universe is telling us to kiss."
And Ness, still mentally out of it from the fact that he had tumbled down a hill with a girl who liked him, hugged her for a bit while staring into each others' eyes right after a compliment battle did just that.
His brain catching up to what he had just done when he and Paula pulled apart for air. "…I JUST KISSED A GIRL OHMY-,"
"NOT THAT LOUD! Or you do just want the world to hear?!"
"LETMEFREAKOUTFIRST!"
"I've already beaten you so freak out second."
"HOWAREYOUSOCALM?!"
"I HAVE NO IDEA."
BEHOLD! I RESUME LIVING- glances at computer calendar- ON THE END OF APRIL WITH TWO SORT OF BIG CHAPTERS TO MAKE UP FOR MARCH BEING CURSED!
But seriously, I think March is cursed since I tried to put off writing to do another project for a family member- It was a birthday gift that I made overly complicated. And the person's birthday was at the end of March...- got sidetracked with life and then found myself teleported into April with one unedited chapter and a second chapter I didn't personally like and was trying to get my wonderful betas to read to see if it made sense.
-.- it's probably a good thing my username is Forgetful Authoress... Oh well, the next chapter after this attempt of romance is formatted differently since the beta who read it for me has a habit of editing my stuff if I show it to them.
Reviews! :)
Pickledpopcorn- Annnd now I'm a blushing mess since A, It's been two years and I'm just NOW getting close to wrapping up year five. B, My drama and love of physiologic and human reactions to certain events aren't out of place or overstaying their welcome. (Although, who am I kidding, anger and sadness LOVE to overstay their welcome. -.-) C. I actually got to make a plot twist despite me completely forgetting that I created Kale to sort of ease me into Hogwarts and D. Positive comments that encourage me to grow make me blush and melt for a bit.
Nice to hear that you're enjoying it though! :D Especially since me, editing and updates aren't really friends. (Editing is a pompous jerk btw.)
Also, Selvis has black hair, honey brown skin and dark green eyes. His father is Arabian and his Mother is English. He got most of his looks from his father but his hair and eyes are from his mother.
I probably should have mentioned his description throughout the story or when I introduced him, but Selvis's original purpose was to just be Ness's info guy who spies on everyone and sort of lurk in the background so I'd have a reason as to why Ness would know what Harry knows despite the two being in different years. Of course that backfired and he became an official member of the story with his own little backstory as to why he put up with Ness and the others for so long before actually becoming their friends. Hence why is name is Selvis Karma and makes almost no sense. (For now, we'll just say that his dad changed his last name so the Ministry couldn't track him down and arrest him for selling illegal magic carpets.)
