* Ok this I have had ALOT of time on my hands so this chapter
is really long! But it's good, at least I think so. Ok ignore
that professor McGonagall said that Chloe was in Wood's
year....what I meant was that she was wood's age, 16! Chloe is
her fifth year at Hogwarts although she takes some classes with
younger students. It's kinda like in regular high school where
the classes are made up of mixed age groups sorted by ability.
(which is why Alicia takes classes with fifth years, she's
extremely smart in my stories so she takes some advanced classes
with the year above her) Sorry for any confusion. Um what else,
o yeah the first part that you read is really important to the
plot later on, as in, the next chapter, so remember it. Um I
didn't have my book with me so I couldn't check my spelling, so
don't yell at me if I spelled something wrong (like I always
do.) And I don't own anything except for the plot and Chloe, but
you would have to be pretty stupid not to know that. One last
thing it's rated PG-13 cause of a lot of language and some sticky
situations......no not that kind of sticky! you have sick
minds!:) Well I'll let you read the story now, enjoy........*
Deep in the forests of England a wrinkled old witch sat in a
rocking chair, seemingly asleep, huddled by a small fire
burning in the hearth, the only source of light in the hut. The
fire-light danced on her crooked old face, lingering in the
crevasses of her wrinkled skin. Her nose, resembling an eagle
beak, cast a sharp shadow on her colorless lips that were
pursed tightly together. Her wild silver hair seemed to sparkled
as the light jumped to and fro between each strand. She wore a
lose gray cloak that looked tattered and worn. Sleeping at her
feet was a great gray wolf whose muscular chest rose and fell
with every breath it took. The hut was uncannily still and
silent, the only sound that was made was the crackling of the
fire, and even that was only as loud as a whisper. Suddenly,
every muscle in the old witch's body stiffened and she sat erect
in her chair, shattering the serene stillness of the hut. Her
heavy eye lids shot open reveling two deep black eyes which
glimmered in the warm firelight. The witch gasped as she
started in to the flames.
"She's here." Her old voice crackled blending almost perfectly
with the sounds of the fire
The old witch got up from her chair and hobbled as fast as she
could to the rickety old coat rack at the back of the hut. In
the darkness she put on a sweeping black cloak which was in no
better condition then her robes. She made her way to the door
and grabbed her broomstick.
"Come Eshan," she said to the wolf "We must go."
The old wolf got to his feet and padded over to his master. She
stroked his head before climbing onto her broom. The old witch
set out into the early dawn with Eshan following on the ground
below her.
*****************************************************************
************
A few hours later, across the country Chloe was sitting in the
Gryffindor common room trying to listen to some last minute
advice about starting her classes from her three roommates
"Ok," Angelina said after looking over Chloe's schedule, "You
actually don't have that bad of a day today."
"I don't?" Chloe asked trying not to sound too relieved.
"No. See first you have History, professor Bigg's class. It's
really just a bore so you can catch up on some sleep. Then you
have herbology with Alicia and I." Chloe's other roommate
smiled. "And then you have Defense Against the Dark Arts."
Katie, Chloe's third roommate let out a little laugh.
"Ha! You have that with me, it hilarious. The Professor,
Lockhart, is so bloody stupid! I just sit there and laugh. Trust
me we'll have a lot of fun. Today he's going to lecture about
his adventures in Siberia." She tried to say something else but
was overcome with a laughing fit. When she finally calmed down
she was able to finish. "Yesterday he tried to show us where it
was on a map and pointed somewhere by the Balkans. This
Ravenclaw girl raised her hand and politely said 'Um Professor
Lockhart you're pointing to Bosnia, Siberia is in Eastern
Russia.' It was so funny" Katie had been laughing so hard that
she needed to wipe her eyes with the sleeves of her robe.
"Well," Angelina continued after glancing at Katie, "Last you
have Transfiguration, we are all in the same class. Professor
McGonagall is hard but that class it's self is ok."
"Hey!" Alicia exclaimed as she tore the schedule from
Angelina's hands, "you don't have potions today, damn you're
lucky I have it first....double block!" She cried out in despair.
"Yeah, I am taking potions with the second years because I
never learned about them in New York, I have it tomorrow. Is it
really as bad as people say it is?" Chloe asked
All three of the girls looked at one another and nodded
solemnly.
"Snape's an ass." Katie said matter-of-factly.
"And you have to deal with the Slytherins all period" Alicia
gave a slight shudder.
"Who are all asses as well" Angelina piped in. "And we are
going to kick their bloody asses in tomorrow's Quidditch match."
Alicia and Katie nodded vigorously.
"Hey, are you coming to the game?" Alicia asked.
"Of course she's coming" Said a loud male voice from behind the
girls.
"Hey Oliver!" Chloe smiled as she turned to face him.
"Hey." He smiled back and she felt butterflies flutter around
in her stomach, "It's almost time for first period what are you
all doing here?" He asked
"Oi!" Alicia exclaimed, "Is it that late already? Fuck I am
going to be late for potions and Snape's gonna kill me."
With that she sprang out of her chair and ran as fast as she
could to out of the common room.
"Well we had better head to Divination" Katie sighed as she and
Angelina got out of their chairs. "See you in Defense against
the Dark Arts." She waved as they stepped out of the common room.
"So, What do you have now?" Oliver asked trying to start a
conversation.
"History." Chloe replied shortly.
"Hey! I have Transfiguration, that's right by Professor Bigg's
room, I'll walk you there." Oliver said optimistically as he
lead Chloe out of the common room. As they walked to class
Chloe felt the butterflies rise in her stomach once again.
*****************************************************************
************
The day went by pretty much as her roommates had predicted it
would. History was boring to no end, and Chloe actually did
catch up on some sleep, Herbology was slightly better, she had
Alicia and Angelina there to help her with replanting some
Limbeck weeds (helpful little plants that can stop itching
caused by bug bites, rashes, sunburns and dry skin). Just like
Katie had predicted Defense Against The Dark Arts was hopelessly
hilarious.
Katie had saved her a seat next to her in the back row.
"This way," She explained "We can comment on his 'daring
adventures' with out getting ourselves into trouble."
When Lockhart walked in Chloe was a little bit surprised by his
looks. He was extremely handsome (if you like the typical
sports-wear model, California blonde surfer type, she thought to
herself with beautiful blonde hair and Twinkling blue eyes. He
had perfectly white and straight teeth which Katie was convinced
he bewitched to sparkle every time he smiled. As planed Lockhart
spent the class lecturing about his Siberian adventures. He
grabbed a frightened Ravenclaw out of his seat to act out some
very exciting scenes. By the time the class had ended both Chloe
and Katie had tears of laughter in their eyes.
"You have Transfiguration next right?" Katie asked.
"Yeah, Professor McGonagall's the instructor, right?"
Katie nodded as they made their way through the crowded
hallways. Chloe who was trying to keep up with her companion
careened into a rather mean-looking boy, knocking the books out
of his arms.
"Sorry." Chloe mumbled as she tried to help the boy pick up
his books.
"Walk much?"
He sneered as he grabbed the books away from her.
"Excuse me?" She shot back.
A crowd was no beginning to watch, no one had ever spoken to
Marcus Flint like that before and it was not hard to imagine
why. Marcus was a burly sixth year who was taller then anyone in
the school, save Hagrid. His size was matched only by the foul
scowl he constantly wore on his face. Most people would take one
look at him and run the other way
Flint seemed to be amused at the idea of someone standing up to
him. He raised his head to look his opponent in the face. Chloe
took Flint a little by surprise. But it was a pleasant surprise,
he thought to himself. Flint took a moment to eyeball her with
a smirk on his face. He then took a few steps closer until his
legs were touching her legs and his shoulders were about an inch
away from her's. He turned his head and hissed in her ear,
"I said, learn to walk."
Chloe never moved, never even flinched, she lifted her knee in
a swift quick motion knocking more then the wind out of Flint.
"Not until you learn some manners" She spat at the writhing
Flint.
Katie stood in amazement, Chloe walked calmly over to her
gaping friend, a pale second year ran over to help Flint.
"Get away Malfoy." He ordered as he got up and saw Chloe
staring at him from across the hall. "That bitch is gonna get it
now." He mumbled as he staggered toward her.
By now some of the teachers had begun to notice the growing
crowd. Professor McGonagall forced her way through the crowd to
where Flint and Malfoy were standing.
"What's going on here?" she demanded
"Nothing." Flint said glaring at Chloe.
"Nothing?" McGonagall asked skeptically
"Nothing," Chloe answered her eyes never breaking from Flint's
cold glare. "He just tripped and dropped some of his books, we
all just wanted to see if he was alright."
The Gryffindors in the crowd stifled sinkers while the
Slytherins began to scowl.
"Very well then." Professor McGonagall said "Get to your
classes. Miss Aldo Miss Bell I believe you are in my class this
period."
Chloe nodded and dragged Katie out of the hall and into the
classroom as she whispered,
"Chloe, that was the most amazing thing I have ever seen."
*****************************************************************
************
Chloe, Angelina, Alicia and Katie came out of the
Transfiguration room listing to Katie re-tell the story about
what happened in the hall for about the hundredth time.
"And then she said 'not until you learn some manners.' It was
great!"
"Just as great as the first hundred times she told it." Alicia
whispered.
Chloe and Angelina burst into laughter. Chloe was a little
tired of hearing about herself. Katie scowled.
"Well Alicia you weren't there, if you had been you would be
worshipping the ground she walks on!" Katie thrust her hand in
Chloe's direction.
"Come on guys." Angelina said, sensing the tension. "I wanna go
to the common room before we go down to dinner."
A conniving smile spread across Katie's face.
"Why?" She asked innocently.
"Cause after trying to turn that box into a raccoon my hair is
a disaster and my eyeliner is running." She indicted the
slightly dark circles under her eyes. "I look more like a
raccoon than my box did."
"Yes." Katie replied still trying to sound innocent "And you
wouldn't want anyone to see you like that. Anyone like let's say
George Weasley!"
Angelina blushed a dark red.
"Hey I wouldn't talk." She retorted "I wasn't a half hour late
to History cause I had to make myself look presentable for that
Hufflepuff kid, Derek Mason. "
Katie and Angelina looked at each other and burst out laughing.
Alicia and Chloe joined in too. After they had all calmed down
Katie said.
"Well you have to admit that I did look pretty damn good."
They all smiled and continued walking. As they approached the
portrait of the Fat Lady Alicia's stomach began to rumble.
"Don't spend too long Angelina," She said, "I am starving!"
"Don't worry." Katie said jokingly "With her natural beauty it
will only take her three maybe four hours."
Angelina pushed Katie aside as she said " Wattlebird." and the
portrait swung aside.
The Gryffindor common room was filled with people, much to the
surprise of the four girls. As they walked in people started to
yell at Chloe.
"Hey way to go!"
"Yeah that was great!"
"I have never laughed so hard in my life."
Chloe forced a smile, obviously news of what had happened in
the hall had spread like wildfire. Fred and George ran over to
them and Chloe caught a glimpse of Angelina furiously trying to
fix her hair before they got there. It was too late.
"Fred told me what happened." George said ecstatically,
"Brilliant, absolutely brilliant."
"Yeah. I'll bet that that will shake up his confidence about
the match tomorrow!" Fred said enthusiastically.
Chloe shot a glance at Angelina who answered her unspoken
question.
"Flint is the captain of the Syltherin Quidditch team."
"And I'll be sure to tell these guys to hit a few bludger
especially for him."
Oliver was walking over to join the group. His face was clouded
with a mixture of concern and anger. Chloe smiled in spite of
her self. Alicia's stomach rumbled again.
"Come on let's eat." She said as she left the common room.
"Shall we?" George offered his arm to Angelina. Angelina, who
forgot about her wild hair and raccoon eyes, took it immediately.
"Shall we?" Fred asked Katie, imitating his brother. She
giggled and took his arm.
Chloe and Oliver laughed at the foursome heading out of the
common room. George was arm and arm with Angelina, they were
both talking quietly and laughing every now and then. Behind
them Fred and Katie followed, they too were arm and arm. Fred
swaggered as he talked grandiloquently to Katie adding in a few
pompous laughs, as she pretended to fan herself with her hand.
"Let's go." Oliver said to Chloe, indicating the portrait hole.
They walked out and followed a few steps behind the rest of the
group. Chloe could sense Oliver looking at her so she turned her
head to meet his gaze. Oliver turned a bright red and averted
his eyes, Chloe looked down at her feet and had to bite her lip
to keep from smiling. They walked on like think for sometime,
each gazing longingly at the other until the other gazed back,
then returning to looking at the floor or the stone walls making
up the halls. Finally Chloe cleared her throat and made an
attempted at conversation.
"So are you ready for the Quidditch game tomorrow?"
Oliver, who had been concentrating very hard on the walls, was
taken a bit off guard by the sudden start of a conversation.
"What?, O yeah the game, yeah I think that we are ready."
"That's good." Chloe smiled
"Yeah." Oliver replied.
The looked at each other for a second before the realized what
they were doing and reverted back to examine the walls. This
time it was Oliver who made an attempt at conversation.
"So did you find your classes ok?" He asked
"Uh-huh." Chloe replied trying very hard to keep staring at the
walls.
"That's good." He said
Chloe shot a glance at him. Oliver was shaking his head in self
disgust as he examined the wall, and was muttering something
under his breath that Chloe couldn't quite catch. 'Say
something' she thought to herself, 'Come on it's not that hard,
you have talked to millions of guys before, he's no different.'
She took a deep breath and wished that she had the same
confidence that she possessed when dealing with Flint. Come on!,
that little voice in her head hissed, say something, anything!
"You're really hot." She mumbled
Chloe slapped her hand on her head. Oliver started and jumped
around to face her.
Why did you have to say that, she cursed herself, you could have
said anything else, stupid stupid stupid stupid! She tried to
look anywhere but in Oliver's general direction.
"Wh-what did you say?" He asked stunned.
Chloe looked up at him her face beat-red. He hadn't heard, she
thought joyfully. Quickly think of something to cover it up she
thought.
"I said er- ah Europe's really hot." She breathed a sigh of
relive.
Oliver looked at her confused. That day it was 32 degrees
outside, that was not his definition of hot. Still he tried to
keep the conversation going.
"The weather here, I mean today anyway is really good for
flying, I just hope it stays that way for tomorrow's game."
"Yeah that'd be good." Chloe said as she locked eyes with
Oliver.
They both burst out laughing realizing how stupid they had both
been for the last couple of minuets. The hallway diverged and
Chloe, still laughing veered to the left. Oliver's arm grabbed
her around the lower waist and pulled her in the other direction
Her face felt like it was on fire and her legs began to tremble.
"The Great Hall is this way." Oliver said as he guided her
towards a door in the righhand hallway.
A wave of relive and disappointment spread over Chloe and they
walked into the Great Hall. Oliver pulled her into a seat next
to him at the Gryffindor table. Although almost the whole house
was eating they still managed to sit a bit removed from the rest
of the hubbub. Before Chloe sat down Hermione caught her eye
and gave her a surprised sort of a smile. Chloe winked back and
both Harry and Ron (who were sitting beside Hermione) scowled.
Oliver and Chloe's plates filled with steak, potatoes and some
sort of vegetable medley as their glasses filled with pumpkin
juice.
"I am really excited about watching the game tomorrow, I can't
wait to see you play." Chloe said earnestly as she cut up her
meat.
Oliver smiled and replied just as earnestly.
"I am really glad you're coming."
Chloe looked at him in surprised, "Really?"
"Yes," He looked into her eyes "Really."
Chloe smiled at him, and this time she didn't go red. Her smile
faded however when her eyes flickered from Oliver's to the
Syltherin table behind him. A group of Sytherin's were
whispering and glaring in her direction. In the center of the
group was Flint who said something that caused the whole table
to erupt in laughter directed at her. Oliver followed her gaze
and scowled at the Slytherins.
"Don't let them get to you." He said "They are the rotten
apples of Hogwarts. Especially Flint and his lackey Malfoy."
Chloe looked once again at the table to see that sitting next
to Flint was the pale second year that had tried to help him in
the hall. The pale boy, who she gathered was Draco Malfoy,
glared at her and whispered something to Flint causing him to
look at an smile menacingly at Chloe. Oliver saw the tension
building between the two tables and sensed Chloe's discomfort.
"Hey" he asked uncertainly "You wanna get out of here?"
"You haven't even eaten anything." She said, although she
wanted more than anything to leave the Great Hall.
"We can finish in the common room, plus the Slytherins are
making me lose my appetite. Let's go."
Oliver stood up and took his plate with him. Chloe followed his
lead. The two of them walked towards the exit of the Great
Hall. Harry grabbed Oliver by the sleeve of his robe.
"Where are you two going?" he asked
Hermione looked at Chloe and then shot a cold glance at the
Slytherin table who were laughing hysterically and pointing in
their direction. Oliver looked at Chloe and said
"She needed some help with an herbology project, and since I
since I did it last year I thought I could give her some
pointers."
With that Oliver and Chloe continued to walk towards the exit.
As they passed by the Slytherin table Chloe's bravery wavered. '
Just walk right passed them' she said to herself ' keep your
head up and don't let them get to you, remember you kneed one of
them in the balls.' The thought of a hunched over Flint cursing
in pain was enough to enable Chloe to march past the Slytherin
table with her head held high.
Chloe and Oliver settled into the common room laughing, they
had just seen Peeves, the schools resident poltergeist fly
around holding on to Flinch's robe. The rather nasty caretaker
was chasing peeves in only his underwear. As he pasted Oliver
and Chloe he glared at them and shouted, "If you tell one soul
about this I'll make certain that you are expelled! I have my
ways I'll-" However the last part of Flinches threat couldn't
be heard as he chased peeves down the stairs toward the dungeons.
"That has got to be the best thing I have seen all day." Chloe
exclaimed as she started to chew on a piece of steak.
"Yeah," Oliver agreed "Although if I had seen you knee Flint
that would have won over Flinch in his underwear."
Chloe nodded as she swallowed the bit of steak she was eating.
"I'll admit that was pretty good, but he deserved it."
"From what I've heard he deserved to have his balls cut off."
Chloe smiled.
"He's just an ass, a gross perverted ass." She said certainly.
"Well if he ever does that to you again he is going to be a
gross perverted ass with no balls." Oliver replied seriously.
Chloe laughed and returned to eating her savory steak. As she
took a sip of pumpkin juice she looked at Oliver. He had
sacrificed a day to show her around the school, he was patient
enough to explain the rules of Quidditch to her ten times until
she finally understood them, and then today he humiliated
himself in front of the Slytherins and offered to fight the
strongest and meanest kid in the school, all for her. Oliver
felt his self being studied and looked at Chloe.
"Wa?" he asked with a mouth full of potatoes.
"Nothing, I was just wondering why you are being so nice to
me." She said as she took another sip of pumpkin juice.
Oliver swallowed and started at her.
"I should think that that was quite obvious." He said frankly.
Chloe felt her cheeks begin to burn as Oliver continued to
stare. She quickly took another gulp of pumpkin juice, still
noticing Oliver peering into her eyes as if he were trying to
read her emotions.
"Listen," he began, this time his voice was a little less sure,
"you wanna go Hogsmead with me after the game tomorrow? I was
thinking that we could you-know maybe go out to dinner or
something. But you know if you don't want to it's fine I mean
you know I really won't mind." he added quickly.
"You mean like a date?" Chloe asked trying to mask her optimism.
Oliver looked up sheepishly and blushed.
"You know your right, I mean what am I thinking, you probably
have a lot of stuff to do, and I already made you miss a lot of
your day by coming to my Quidditch game, and I bet you have a
boyfriend back in the states." Oliver stammered and his face
became redder with every word. "Forget I asked."
Chloe began to laugh. Oliver looked hurt.
"You don't have to laugh at me." He shot at her.
"No, no it's not what you think" She said shaking her head.
"Oliver I would love to go to dinner with you."
"WHAT?!" He shouted as he jumped out of his chair, "wait a
minute I don't want your pity." Oliver looked uncertainly in her
eyes.
Chloe rose and took his hand in hers, her eyes never wavering
from his gaze.
"Oliver, I am not pitying you, I really would love to go out
on a date with you." She dropped her eyes to the floor and
blushed as she added. "In fact I was wondering when you get
around to asking me."
Oliver smiled and lifted her chin up with his free hand. Chloe
beamed back at him, as he leaned in towards her. She tilted her
head up and closed her eyes, his lip barley touched hers when
the portrait swung open and the rest of the Gryffindors came
stampeding in. Oliver and Chloe quickly separated and blushed
furiously. The Weasley twins came over to them followed by
Chloe's roommates and Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"Come on." Fred urged, "Let's finish the tournament."
"But we finished that last nigh." Chloe said
"Aye, but that was only the first round lassie." George said as
he made his way over to the main fireplace and pulled a deck of
exploding snap cards from his robes. The rest of the group
followed.
"Last year we played every night for a month." Whispered
Hermione in despair.
They spent the rest of the nigh playing. Chloe did a little
better this time, though she didn't make it past the second
round. Wood made the team go to bed a little bit after ten,
because of the game the next day. Before they all headed off to
their separate dormitories Oliver leaned over towards Chloe and
gave her a soft kiss on her cheek. They said their good-nights
and Chloe walked into her dormitory followed by her bewildered
roommates. She said nothing to them and instead got into her
nightgown, crawled into bed and feel asleep dreaming of the day
to come.
To be continued...
* Ok so please tell me what you think....the next chapter is the
Quidditch game where harry breaks his arm, and um the old witch
lady comes in to play in a BIG way, and there is a lot of um
let's just say romance, and that's all I am saying! so please
please become my best friend in the whole world and
review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*