A Quest for Love: Chapter 7
I knocked softly on the door to the Hospital Wing. A moment later, the door opened a crack, and Madam Pomfrey's head poked out. It was dark inside; I had probably woken her up. She blinked blearily as the light from the corrider fell across her eyes. "Who's there?" she asked sleepily.
"Millicent Bulstrode." I said. "Longbottom fainted."
Apparently that woke the nurse up a bit, because her eyebrows shot straight up into her forehead. "What?" she asked incredulously.
"Neville Longbottom fainted," I repeated.
"No, I mean who are you?" She squinted, her eyes still adjusting to the light.
"I'm Millicent." I was starting to get annoyed now. "Listen, could you let me in now? Neville isn't all that light."
"Of course. Just a moment." Madam Pomfrey turned on a lamp, and pointed to a bed where I could deposit the unconscious Neville.
"Well? Will he be all right?" I asked, once Neville was lying peacefully under the covers.
Madam Pomfrey smiled. "Yes, dear, he'll be better in the morning. Of course, it will take him a little while to recuperate, though. Whatever happened to him?"
I squirmed uncomfortably in my chair. "Well, erm, he fell, I mean, he tripped over a stool and hit his head." That sounded feasible. Neville wasn't exactly graceful.
Madam Pomfrey raised her eyebrows again, but didn't make any comment. After a few minutes, though, she addressed me again. "You can go now. He won't wake up until morning." She yawned.
"You aren't going to help him?"
The nurse looked vaguely amused. "What could I do? I don't want to wake him up at eleven o'clock at night anyway. I'll be able to wake him in the morning."
"Well, I'll just wait here then," I said.
"Miss Bulstrode, you can't wait up all night!" Madam Pomfrey looked scandalized.
"I don't have school tomorrow. I can wait up all night if I want to," I insisted.
"You're a growing girl! You need your sleep! I certainly cannot let you wait here all night. Don't worry about your little friend. He'll be fine. Goodnight!" And with that, she practically shoved me out of the door. A moment later, I could see the lights go out from within. I waited another minute, and Madam Pomfrey's gentle snores reached my ears. Good. I slipped my wand out of my pocket, and whispered "Alohomora." Silently, I crept into the Hospital wing.
I don't really know why I wanted to stay with Neville. I guess I just felt guilty. It didn't seem right to hurt someone who was as harmless as Neville . . . 'Millicent! What are you thinking?' I growled to myself. 'Neville is a Gryffindor. A true Slytherin does not regret hurting Gryffindors, no matter how harmless they appear to be. You did not mind hurting Neville. You are only staying here so that when he wakes up, you will be able to let him know what will happen if he tries to punch you again. That's all. This has nothing to do with guilt. No guilt . . .' My thoughts trailed off, as I stared at Neville's still figure.
It was then that I had my brilliant idea. I don't know where it came from. It was an inspiration. I was enlightened in the Hospital Wing. I would write Neville a song.
It would be a wonderful song, I decided right away. When he woke up, the first thing that he would see would be my smiling face. He would hear my irresistable voice, and immediately he would be smitten with me. It would work perfectly.
What would the song be about? I thought. And thought. For a long time. What would Neville want to hear about? What would be meaningful to him? What did he depend on?
That was when I had my second amazing idea in the same night. Neville depended on his Remembrall . . . I would be Neville's Remembrall!
I started making up the song right away. It didn't take me long. I'm good at stuff like that, if I do say so myself. Five minutes later, I had the perfect lyrics, and a tune to match. It even rhymed. I started to hum the tune softly under my breath.
Neville stirred.
I sprang over to his side. He couldn't wake without me there serenading him. It would ruin the whole plan if he did that.
As Neville's eyes fluttered open, I started to sing at the top of my voice. I had put a silencing charm on the room; Madam Pomfrey wouldn't hear me. And I had to make sure that Neville could hear me.
"I'll be your Remembrall
I will come at your every call
I'll tell you what you forgot
And believe me, you forgot a lot."
I paused as Neville rubbed his eyes wearily. "I'm dreaming," he stated in a flat, monotonous voice. "Millicent, you are not singing to me. Go away. I'll wake up soon."
"That's not true!" I said irritably. "I'm real. Just listen, there's more. And don't interrupt again." I considered twisting his wrist, but decided that the song would have more impact if I stroked his hair instead. So I grabbed his head.
"Ouch!" Neville said. "Go away, nightmare!"
"Oh, shut up!" I snapped. "I'm just trying to stroke your hair, although it might work better if you stopped fidgeting. Don't move and be quiet!" Neville obeyed. "Much better." I started stroking his head rather forcefully. I didn't know how thick that boy's skull was. I had to make sure that he could fell me. Neville jerked his head, but grasped it tightly and held it in place. "Listen!" I commanded. Neville grimaced, but he couldn't move his hands to plug his ears. I was holding both of them firmly in one of my own.
I started to sing.
"Your grandma won't need to send
You Remebralls, cause I will lend
My brain to you, to say what you forgot
And believe me, you forgot a lot"
"I don't ask much in return
All I ask is that you learn
That with all your heart you love me
And then see how happy we will be."
When the song was done, I gave Neville a dazzling smile. He closed his eyes tightly. I suppose that the brilliance of my grin was too much for him. He couldn't bear to look on so much beauty all at once. Kind of the way people can't stare at the sun too long without hurting their eyes.
"So, Neville, did you like it?" I crossed my fingers. I had finally come to the moment when Neville would announce his passion for me.
"Erm--"
"You did like it, didn't you?" I put my face right up close to Neville's.
"Erm . . . why am I here?"
I saw through his little tactic. He wasn't going to change the subject. I wouldn't let him. "I don't know, but I can guarantee that it will be much longer if you don't answer my question," I hissed.
"Erm--yes! Yes, of course I liked it!" Neville sounded a bit unsure, but I relaxed my grip on his hands slightly.
"Good. I thought of a Remembrall because I know that you keep losing yours. And by the way, you are here because you punched me." Neville looked confused. I explained. "So, naturally, I punched back in self-defense."
Neville's eyes widened. "I remember!" he exclaimed. "You tried to break my hand!" He pointed an accusing finger at me.
I started to get worried. He wasn't supposed to remember that. "No! I would never try to break your hand! But let's not dwell on that. Umm . . . I'll help you with your homework! You won't be out until tomorrow, and you must have work that you need to finish . . . right?"
Neville looked like he wanted to go to sleep again. "No, that's okay, Millicent. Hermione will help me . . . Hermione always helps me . . . " His eyes dropped slowly. As he started to snore, the full impact of his words hit me.
Hermione would help him. Why Hermione? Why not me? I should be helping him. The love of his life should be helping him. That was me! . . . right? Or did he like someone else . . . Hermione?! Damn.
I knew that girl was bad from the start. I knew it. She was always being nice to Neville, flirting with Neville . . . that was my job! She was trying to steal Neville from me! I would have to teach her a lesson. She couldn't just reach out and take Neville. I had worked hard for him. He was mine!
There just had to be a way to break them up.
Thank you so much to the lovely people that reviewed this! You make me so happy. You can be expecting a list of reviewers every couple of chapters from now on.
If you thought that the song in the middle of this was absolutely awful, I would like to remind you that it was an example of Millicent's writing skills, not mine. Don't flame me for it. I know it's bad.
Please Review!
I knocked softly on the door to the Hospital Wing. A moment later, the door opened a crack, and Madam Pomfrey's head poked out. It was dark inside; I had probably woken her up. She blinked blearily as the light from the corrider fell across her eyes. "Who's there?" she asked sleepily.
"Millicent Bulstrode." I said. "Longbottom fainted."
Apparently that woke the nurse up a bit, because her eyebrows shot straight up into her forehead. "What?" she asked incredulously.
"Neville Longbottom fainted," I repeated.
"No, I mean who are you?" She squinted, her eyes still adjusting to the light.
"I'm Millicent." I was starting to get annoyed now. "Listen, could you let me in now? Neville isn't all that light."
"Of course. Just a moment." Madam Pomfrey turned on a lamp, and pointed to a bed where I could deposit the unconscious Neville.
"Well? Will he be all right?" I asked, once Neville was lying peacefully under the covers.
Madam Pomfrey smiled. "Yes, dear, he'll be better in the morning. Of course, it will take him a little while to recuperate, though. Whatever happened to him?"
I squirmed uncomfortably in my chair. "Well, erm, he fell, I mean, he tripped over a stool and hit his head." That sounded feasible. Neville wasn't exactly graceful.
Madam Pomfrey raised her eyebrows again, but didn't make any comment. After a few minutes, though, she addressed me again. "You can go now. He won't wake up until morning." She yawned.
"You aren't going to help him?"
The nurse looked vaguely amused. "What could I do? I don't want to wake him up at eleven o'clock at night anyway. I'll be able to wake him in the morning."
"Well, I'll just wait here then," I said.
"Miss Bulstrode, you can't wait up all night!" Madam Pomfrey looked scandalized.
"I don't have school tomorrow. I can wait up all night if I want to," I insisted.
"You're a growing girl! You need your sleep! I certainly cannot let you wait here all night. Don't worry about your little friend. He'll be fine. Goodnight!" And with that, she practically shoved me out of the door. A moment later, I could see the lights go out from within. I waited another minute, and Madam Pomfrey's gentle snores reached my ears. Good. I slipped my wand out of my pocket, and whispered "Alohomora." Silently, I crept into the Hospital wing.
I don't really know why I wanted to stay with Neville. I guess I just felt guilty. It didn't seem right to hurt someone who was as harmless as Neville . . . 'Millicent! What are you thinking?' I growled to myself. 'Neville is a Gryffindor. A true Slytherin does not regret hurting Gryffindors, no matter how harmless they appear to be. You did not mind hurting Neville. You are only staying here so that when he wakes up, you will be able to let him know what will happen if he tries to punch you again. That's all. This has nothing to do with guilt. No guilt . . .' My thoughts trailed off, as I stared at Neville's still figure.
It was then that I had my brilliant idea. I don't know where it came from. It was an inspiration. I was enlightened in the Hospital Wing. I would write Neville a song.
It would be a wonderful song, I decided right away. When he woke up, the first thing that he would see would be my smiling face. He would hear my irresistable voice, and immediately he would be smitten with me. It would work perfectly.
What would the song be about? I thought. And thought. For a long time. What would Neville want to hear about? What would be meaningful to him? What did he depend on?
That was when I had my second amazing idea in the same night. Neville depended on his Remembrall . . . I would be Neville's Remembrall!
I started making up the song right away. It didn't take me long. I'm good at stuff like that, if I do say so myself. Five minutes later, I had the perfect lyrics, and a tune to match. It even rhymed. I started to hum the tune softly under my breath.
Neville stirred.
I sprang over to his side. He couldn't wake without me there serenading him. It would ruin the whole plan if he did that.
As Neville's eyes fluttered open, I started to sing at the top of my voice. I had put a silencing charm on the room; Madam Pomfrey wouldn't hear me. And I had to make sure that Neville could hear me.
"I'll be your Remembrall
I will come at your every call
I'll tell you what you forgot
And believe me, you forgot a lot."
I paused as Neville rubbed his eyes wearily. "I'm dreaming," he stated in a flat, monotonous voice. "Millicent, you are not singing to me. Go away. I'll wake up soon."
"That's not true!" I said irritably. "I'm real. Just listen, there's more. And don't interrupt again." I considered twisting his wrist, but decided that the song would have more impact if I stroked his hair instead. So I grabbed his head.
"Ouch!" Neville said. "Go away, nightmare!"
"Oh, shut up!" I snapped. "I'm just trying to stroke your hair, although it might work better if you stopped fidgeting. Don't move and be quiet!" Neville obeyed. "Much better." I started stroking his head rather forcefully. I didn't know how thick that boy's skull was. I had to make sure that he could fell me. Neville jerked his head, but grasped it tightly and held it in place. "Listen!" I commanded. Neville grimaced, but he couldn't move his hands to plug his ears. I was holding both of them firmly in one of my own.
I started to sing.
"Your grandma won't need to send
You Remebralls, cause I will lend
My brain to you, to say what you forgot
And believe me, you forgot a lot"
"I don't ask much in return
All I ask is that you learn
That with all your heart you love me
And then see how happy we will be."
When the song was done, I gave Neville a dazzling smile. He closed his eyes tightly. I suppose that the brilliance of my grin was too much for him. He couldn't bear to look on so much beauty all at once. Kind of the way people can't stare at the sun too long without hurting their eyes.
"So, Neville, did you like it?" I crossed my fingers. I had finally come to the moment when Neville would announce his passion for me.
"Erm--"
"You did like it, didn't you?" I put my face right up close to Neville's.
"Erm . . . why am I here?"
I saw through his little tactic. He wasn't going to change the subject. I wouldn't let him. "I don't know, but I can guarantee that it will be much longer if you don't answer my question," I hissed.
"Erm--yes! Yes, of course I liked it!" Neville sounded a bit unsure, but I relaxed my grip on his hands slightly.
"Good. I thought of a Remembrall because I know that you keep losing yours. And by the way, you are here because you punched me." Neville looked confused. I explained. "So, naturally, I punched back in self-defense."
Neville's eyes widened. "I remember!" he exclaimed. "You tried to break my hand!" He pointed an accusing finger at me.
I started to get worried. He wasn't supposed to remember that. "No! I would never try to break your hand! But let's not dwell on that. Umm . . . I'll help you with your homework! You won't be out until tomorrow, and you must have work that you need to finish . . . right?"
Neville looked like he wanted to go to sleep again. "No, that's okay, Millicent. Hermione will help me . . . Hermione always helps me . . . " His eyes dropped slowly. As he started to snore, the full impact of his words hit me.
Hermione would help him. Why Hermione? Why not me? I should be helping him. The love of his life should be helping him. That was me! . . . right? Or did he like someone else . . . Hermione?! Damn.
I knew that girl was bad from the start. I knew it. She was always being nice to Neville, flirting with Neville . . . that was my job! She was trying to steal Neville from me! I would have to teach her a lesson. She couldn't just reach out and take Neville. I had worked hard for him. He was mine!
There just had to be a way to break them up.
Thank you so much to the lovely people that reviewed this! You make me so happy. You can be expecting a list of reviewers every couple of chapters from now on.
If you thought that the song in the middle of this was absolutely awful, I would like to remind you that it was an example of Millicent's writing skills, not mine. Don't flame me for it. I know it's bad.
Please Review!
