*(A/N)* I don't really have much to say *shock* except for, sorry for the wait!! It's been taking me longer and longer to get these stories out....*sigh* My life is just too busy (hehe, yeah right!)
Chloe Patil at Hogwarts: Chapter 16
Neville Longbottom strutted into the Gryffindor Common Room with new confidence. Everything seemed to be going his way. He'd just gotten a date for the upcoming ball, he'd remembered the password to the Gryffindor Common Room (finally!) and for once, he was completely finished his homework. He spotted some friends over in a corner table of the room. Hermione, Harry and Ron, as well as Seamus and Lavender (who'd become mysteriously inseperable lately) and Dean.
"Hey guys.." He greeted them.
"Hey Neville." They all answered. Lavender squeezed over to make room for him at the table, which he found very odd. He wondered what was going on with Lavender's new found good mood. Usually she was short tempered around him.
"What's going on?" He asked.
"Oh nothing," Harry answered, "Just talking about the ball, homework, you know..."
When the Ball was mentioned, Neville thought he noticed Seamus and Lavender giving eachother puppy-dog eyes, but couldn't decide if he'd imagined it or not.
"Find anyone to go with yet?" Lavender asked Neville, smiling sweetly. Neville knew very well what she expected the answer to be.
"Actually, yeah." He answered, his confidence swelling up a bit more at their surprised faces. He found himself blushing a bit at the sudden attention coming his way.
"Who?" Hermione asked at once.
"Chloe Patil." Neville answered firmly.
"WHHAAT?" Harry suddenly burst out. "I mean, good for you." He said, reddening and sitting back down.
Everyone gazed at him oddly, but quickly turned their attention back to Neville. Even Ron, who Neville knew didn't like Chloe, looked slightly interested.
Seamus slapped him on the back. "So when did you pull this off?" He asked with a grin.
"Just a couple of minutes ago. She helped me get out of a bind, and then I just asked her. I don't know what came over me, I regretted it as soon as I asked. I was sure she'd say no. I don't know, she just told me Yes." He explained, shrugging.
"Well, that's great." Dean said, standing up. "I'm going to go find Parvati..."
Neville wondered why, and suddenly realized that he didn't know who in Gryffindor was going to the Ball with who. He'd been busy over the last couple of days, a detention from Snape, extra Charms work, the usual, and had never found out.
"So, who's going with who here?" Neville asked curiously.
"Well, there's me and Lavender," Seamus said proudly. Lavender turned a slight shade of pink at his forward announcement. Neville just nodded.
"Dean and Hermione," Seamus continued, gesturing towards Hermione, who also turned a shade of pink.
"Really, I thought he was going with Parvati, no offence Hermione," Neville said quickly, gazing at her. "Why'd he go to find Parvati then?"
"Who knows, maybe he needs help in Divination. Nobody in this school is good at Divination, including Trelawney herself!" Seamus said, receiving a hard elbow in the side from Lavender.
"Uhh, Ron and Hannah Abbott." Seamus continued quickly, changing the subject back, "and Harry, well, we're not so sure about Harry." Harry reddened and looked down quickly.
"Who were you planning on asking, Harry?" Neville asked interestedly.
Harry looked up at him darkly. "Don't even ask.." He growled, shaking his head.
*~*
The next day in Potions, Chloe looked for the boy she'd accepted a date from. Jessika had been excited when Chloe had told her that she'd finally found a date for the dance, and took out her notebook, ready to jot it down. Then Chloe had admitted that she didn't even know his name, and she put back the book, an annoyed expression on her face.
"Honestly..." she muttered.
That made Jessika the only one that didn't have a date yet. Chloe couldn't help but grin at the thought.
"Patil, Chloe.." Droned Snape, breaking her out of her train of thought.
"Uhh, yeah!" She responded.
He then moved onwards down the beginning of the list. The roll sheet was usually in alphabetical order, but as Chloe had joined the class late, her name had been put at the top of it. She looked around, finally spotting the boy she was looking for at the front of the class. Then, realizing he was the one that melted his cauldron at least once every couple weeks, she put her hands over her face, trying to hold back a groan. What had she gotten herself into?
"Longbottom, Neville..."
Chloe looked up, and sure enough,
"H-here..." The boy stammered back.
So, she'd finally found out the name of the boy she was going to the dance with. At least Jessika would be happy.
*~*
The morning had gone fairly well, and soon Chloe found herself in the Great Hall, sitting with all her friends, munching on a ham and chicken sandwich.
"Chloe?" Jessika called.
"Yeah?" Chloe answered thickly, covering her mouth, which was full of sandwich.
"Find out the name of your dream date yet?" She asked with a smirk.
Chloe swallowed. "I never said he was a dream date!" She replied indignantly. "But, yeah, I did. It's Neville Longbottom."
They all gaped back at her, but were soon sniggering uncontrollably.
"What?" She asked, reddening.
"Well, he's practically a Squib!" Sara choked out.
"I wouldn't talk, Sara! How bright do you think Crabbe is?" Chloe retorted hotly.
This shut them up, as it was a pretty well-known fact that even people like Neville beat Crabbe and Goyle at schoolwork.
"Yeah, but he's also a Gryffindor..." Roz spoke up.
Chloe sighed exasperatedly, "Since when have I cared about Gryffindors, Roz? Answer me this...."
Roz didn't. She sat in silence, breaking apart a roll.
"Precisely." Chloe stated, now ladling some soup into her bowl. "Well, what are you waiting for, Jessika? Mark him down in your book..."
*~*
The dance was now five days away, as was Christmas Vacation. Chloe didn't know whether to stay at school or go home for the Break. That morning she decided she should probably write her parents and ask them what would be going on over the holidays before making a decision. She wondered what her sisters were doing, and decided to go talk to Padma over at the Ravenclaw table.
"Hey Padma!" He called brightly, nearing her sister.
Padma looked up, surprised. She gave her a small smile.
"Hey Chloe, I'd almost forgotten you were at Hogwarts now!"
"Gee, thanks. I wanted to talk to you about the Holidays. Are you staying here or going home?"
"I don't know. Haven't given it much thought, really. Are you excited for the Ball? Who're you going with?" Her sister asked.
Chloe sighed. "Enough with the Ball already! You don't know what you're doing?" Padma shook her head no. "Alright then," Chloe continued, "I'll go talk to Parvati."
"Yeah, then come back here." Padma called back.
Several rounds later, they were no closer to finding out whether the sisters would be going home or staying at school. She had learned, however, what the two were wearing to the Ball, and who they were going with. Somehow, Parvati had managed to get Frederick Burney as a date, much to the amusement of Chloe. She expected that Jessika wouldn't be too pleased. Padma, on the other hand, was going with Harry Potter.
This took Chloe by surprise, as last year, Parvati and Padma had sworn off Harry Potter and Ron Weasley as dates for any future events. When Chloe mentioned this, Padma smiled mischieviously and said,
"Parvati swore off Harry, not me. He just asked me today, and I don't have anyone else to go with...Plus, he's Harry Potter and he's not that bad looking..."
Chloe rolled her eyes. There were her sisters again, picking dates by how they looked. She shrugged and walked back to her table. She was even more confused then before after speaking with her sisters.
She sat down, and was surprised to find a letter sitting on her breakfast plate. She hadn't gotten a letter yet! She guessed that it was probably from her parents, as the family owl, Terrence, was sitting on her goblet.
"Thanks Terrence." She said sarcastically, reminding herself not to drink anything out of that goblet. The owl hooted softly. Chloe smiled, and gave him the crusts of her toast. Then he flew off in the direction of the Gryffindor Table, probably dropping off a letter for her sisters.
Chloe sat down and tore the envelope open quickly.
Dear Chloe,
Hello, Darling, how's your school year been? We're so proud of you, moving up to Fifth Year with your sisters! Professor Dumbledore sent us a letter explaining the whole thing. Your Father and I are sorry that we haven't written before this, we've been quite busy, things being the way they are at the Ministry.
Madame Maxime has returned to her school, her trip over the summer took longer then expected, apparently. Just thought that would cheer you up. We spoke to her earlier, she told us to inform you that she wishes you luck at Hogwarts, and that they all miss you! Why don't you use a School Owl sometime and write to your friends at Beauxbatons? I know that you miss them, and I'm sure they've been thinking of you.
I know that you have the choice of staying at school over the holidays, but your Father and I have discussed this, and thought it to be more appropriate if you would come home for Christmas. I know we're not as exciting as school, but Grandma and Grandpa Patil are joining us for the Holidays, and they'd like it very much to see you. It's only a couple weeks, dear. Please inform the school what your plans are, I've told Padma and Parvati the exact same thing. We'll have a wonderful family holiday! Chloe rolled her eyes at this. "Oh joy..." She muttered.
Love you lot's, and we'll see you in a few days!!
Mom and Dad
xoxoxo
Chloe looked over at the Gryffindor Table and saw Parvati reading what was probably the exact same last paragraph, a look of disgust on her face. Parvati and Grandma Patil didn't get along very well, Padma had always been the Grandmother's favorite. Chloe didn't mind this so much, she always found that the three received more extravagant gifts when her Grandparents were actually staying with them for Christmas. At least that was one decision out of the way.
She tucked the letter into her bag, glancing at the watch on her wrist. She realized that if she wasn't fast, she was going to be late for classes. While reading her letter, the Great Hall had emptied considerably. She raced off, still needing to grab her books for the morning....
*(A/N)* Well, that one may not have been too exciting, but it gives you a lot of information about the Gryffindor's and the Ball at least. Number Seventeen should be out sooner, I'm hoping.
By the way, when you guys reviewed, you all seemed to not want Chloe to go with Neville. Just out of curiousity, who did you want her to go with instead? Hehehe, the idea swimming around in my head may depend on your answer......
Review S'ils vous plait!!
*Sleeping~Beauty*