A/N: Usual disclaimer, I don't own the HP character, they belong to JKR. I
do own any original characters...don't sue; I'm not making any money off of
this.
~*~Explanation time! Yeeha!- More Slytherin pain *evil grin*, please tell me what you think? Do you hate Philomena? I'm giving into Eva…alright, fine, I'm giving Philomena a "luuuooo-ve" interest : )~ (this chapter focuses almost entirely on Philomena…yes, I know, I'm only a few steps away from making her a Mary Sue, so if you think I've gone too far, and you're starting to hate her, then tell me! I hate Mary Sue's as much as the next person, but sometimes, it's really hard to resist the temptation ::shudder::
CHAPTER FIVE (Of Cookies and Realizations)
Next to her cheap silicon I look minimal
That's why in front of your eyes I'm invisible
But you gotta know small things also count
You better put your feet on the ground
And see what it's about
--"Objection (Tango)" by Shakira
With a tired, tenative look, Philomena stood in front of the Slytherin dorm after dinner, waiting for Fiona to open the portrait hole. She wondered if maybe her new stepsister hadn't conveniently forgotten about their appointment and was debating whether or not to leave.
"What are you doing down here?" a voice hissed beside her. Philomena let out a screech and fell back into the person behind her, sending them both crashing to the floor with a thud.
"Malfoy! Geez! What do you do, float around the school?" Philomena exclaimed, squinting in the dark light. She heard a sigh.
"You know, I'm beginning to wonder if maybe you aren't a walking, talking death wish," he muttered. Philomena sniffed indignantly.
"I'd be offended if it was anyone else," she muttered. There was a pause.
"Get off of me."
Philomena's eyes widened as she scrambled to get out of his lap and stand. She blushed and was grateful for their dark surroundings. Draco managed to get to his feet, glaring at her.
"Lose more books?" he asked with a smirk.
"No. My mother sent a card," she answered haughtily, pulling at her robes.
"Why did Fiona get it?"
"She has an owl," Philomena answered as if should have been quite obvious. Philomena paused as he started to move for the portrait hole. She bit her lip and finally found her voice.
"I think she forgot," she murmured. Draco gave no reply, and she didn't press it. Instead, she leaned against the cool wall and prepared to wait. She had an eerie connection with her mother. For years they had lived alone together, and any sort of correspondence from her was worth waiting for, even if it was in a mildly depressing dungeon.
She watched him disappear through the open door, and waited to hear the definitive clank of it slamming shut, but it never came. She slowly got to her feet and edged closer. Looking in, she saw Draco's disappearing form. Fiona was sitting in the commons room, doing homework, obviously oblivious to Philomena's presence. She absently looked up, and gave a sour expression.
"Oh, it's you," she said, getting up from the chair. Philomena sighed.
"Do you have the note?"
"Yeah," Fiona answered, stalking through the commons room. Philomena was talking through the open portrait, dreading to step through. Fiona paused halfway through the room and threw an annoyed glance in Philomena's direction.
"Are you coming?"
Philomena obliged and slowly clamored after her stepsister. She led her towards the girl's dormitory and waited outside as Fiona found the note. She returned moments later and all but threw it at Philomena before slamming the door in her face. Blinking, Philomena slowly backed away and managed to find her own way to the commons room. The room was deserted, so she paused and ripped the small parchment open.
1 Phil-
2 Darling, sorry this isn't longer, but things are so hectic around her now, what with the marriage and moving. Enclosed is the address of our new house, I can't wait until you see it; it's absolutely beautiful! Please be patient with Fiona, this is a hard adjustment, I know, for both of you. I love you!
3 -Phyl
4
Philomena rolled her eyes. Her mother's full name was Phyllis, but she enjoyed, very much, that both of their names started with the same root and she could call herself, and her daughter, Phil. She looked at the parchment one last time before beginning to roll it up. Then, with a slight chirp, the parchment turned into a chocolate chip cookie. Phyllis Dillerwood had been one of the best transfiguration students to walk the halls of Hogwarts, even if she was American and could barely pronounce Latin, and had once turned her apple into a man-eating beast.
"Where'd that come from?" a voice asked behind her. Philomena jumped, but managed not to collide with anything nearby.
"My mom," she answered, turning to Draco who was staring at the cookie.
"Must not run in the family…" he muttered. Philomena glared at him.
"I'm getting better! Besides, you aren't the transfiguration master you think you are," she said indignantly.
"And yet, somehow better than you."
Philomena rolled her eyes, but couldn't come up with a response. So, with a huff, she turned on her heel, and charged towards the exit. She managed to make it to the door with only a slight stumble and was extra careful while walking around the corner.
Fiona emerged from the girls dormitory moments after Philomena left.
"So, she left?"
"Yeah," he murmured, sitting in one of the chair by the fire.
"You know…I'm going to have to spend Christmas with her," Fiona sighed.
"Have fun. Hope you don't die."
"I can't promise anything, she's a walking, talking-"
"Death wish."
"Well, I was going to say catastrophe, but death wish works too," Fiona said, slamming her book shut.
"It's just that…she doesn't even try! How am I going to live with her? I can barely stand the sight of her and my father expects me to somehow coexist with that disaster of a girl?!" Fiona exclaimed. Draco shrugged; Slytherins didn't do a lot of bonding. Fiona seemed aware of his discomfort and got up with a sigh. Pansy would be in the dorm room, and more open to "discuss" Philomena.
With a groan Draco shook his head and tried to clear his mind. It had been, mildly put, a strange week. Philomena had been, at the onset of this, a simple, clumsy, jovial Hufflepuff that wondered around Hogwarts, eating chocolate chip cookies, happily anonymous and very much uninterested in anything Slytherin. Now, however, it seemed every other day she was barging in here, demanding books, notes, cookies, and somehow always managing to inflict physical pain upon him. And now, though he would deny it to everyone, including himself, he was oddly aware of the strange color of her eyes and the way her nose wrinkled when she as mad or upset. An observation he wished he had never made.
Philomena sat down to lunch with a sigh. The first quidditch match of the season was tomorrow and the whole school bursting with energy. Margaret smiled as she took her seat next to Philomena, unaware of the eyes that were following her friend's every movement.
"You excited about tomorrow?"
"What? Quidditch? I guess," Philomena sighed. Margaret laughed.
"You're not telling me that you aren't the least bit excited about the match between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor," Margaret said, putting special emphasis on the last house. Philomena blushed, and absently poked at her lunch.
"Very funny Margaret," she said.
"I'm sorry…I couldn't help myself, it's just so…cute that you have a crush on Oliver Wood!" Margaret exclaimed. Philomena didn't bother to quiet her friend, because it was true. Ever since her first year, she had harbored a rather large crush on older boy. But, she shot Margaret a sour glance and continued to pick at her sandwich.
"If you bothered to pay attention, Margaret, you'd know that Wood graduated already," she sighed, slumping onto her elbow.
"He did? Really? Geez, where was I?"
"Probably too busy gawking at the Ravenclaw team," Philomena shot back. Margaret colored, and found her lunch suddenly interesting.
"I'm assuming that's why you're not exactly thrilled about the new season," Margaret said. Philomena sighed, still nursing a broken heart. She remembered when she had accidentally dumped her dinner all over him on her first day. It had been love at first site.
"Yeah, I suppose," Philomena said, between bites.
"Well, maybe you'll find someone new," Margaret said. Philomena let out a moan.
"There will never be anyone else!"
"Maybe Wood has a younger sibling?"
"It wouldn't be the same…he was perfection!" Philomena groaned. Margaret stifled a giggle with her apple.
"Maybe you should broaden your horizons?" Margaret suggested.
"What?"
"To other houses?"
Philomena let out a pained, heart-broken sigh.
"Yeah right."
"No, seriously, what about…" Margaret paused and looked around the Great Hall at the tables.
"Yeah…?"
"What about Slytherin?" Margaret asked, her eyes falling on a certain person.
"No!" Philomena exclaimed adamantly.
"Why not?"
"It's Slytherin, isn't that enough? I mean, who needs an excuse…besides, when has a Slytherin ever looked beyond their own house?"
"There's always a first for-"
"Don't even finish that sentence, honestly, I cannot believe what I'm hearing!"
"I'm not going to spend the rest of the year trying to get you to snap out of your little Wood obsession!" Margaret shot back.
"You're one to talk about obsessions!" Philomena glowered. Margaret looked genuinely hurt, and got up abruptly. Margaret had fancied a boy in Ravenclaw; they had Muggle Studies together, but he ignored her. Last year, she had mustered up enough courage to ask him to the Yule Ball, only to find out he was dating someone else. It had hurt Margaret, and she still wasn't quite over the sting. Philomena closed her eyes and slouched in her seat. She knew it had been a cheap shot, but she was really getting sick of Margaret's constant teasing. Slowly, Philomena got to her feet and wandered back to the Hufflepuff tower, feeling rather dejected.
As she blundered her way through the Great Hall, she felt a presence beside her and couldn't help the sour expression on her face.
"What?" she glowered, turning around to face Fiona.
"I want to know what's going on between you and-"
"Me and who? I'm not dating anyone, I'm not trying to date anyone, and the only thing I really want to do right now is disappear for a few days!" Philomena sputtered, nearly colliding with a group of first-years. Fiona sneered, then turned away and walked back towards her table. She had never seen the mild-mannered Hufflepuff so flustered and saw that her shadow, Margaret, had disappeared.
Philomena collapsed in the library, feeling extremely confused. She hadn't meant to snap at Margaret, but things suddenly were so weird. Her mother had married a supposed Death Eater, she was now related through marriage to a Slytherin, but worst of all, she swallowed heard, worst of all, she felt a sudden affection for the most unexpected of people. A person she knew nothing about, a person that had been nothing but mean, obnoxious, and cold to her, and a person that would otherwise repulse her. But, somehow, he didn't, and she was so confused she didn't what to think or say anymore.
~*~Explanation time! Yeeha!- More Slytherin pain *evil grin*, please tell me what you think? Do you hate Philomena? I'm giving into Eva…alright, fine, I'm giving Philomena a "luuuooo-ve" interest : )~ (this chapter focuses almost entirely on Philomena…yes, I know, I'm only a few steps away from making her a Mary Sue, so if you think I've gone too far, and you're starting to hate her, then tell me! I hate Mary Sue's as much as the next person, but sometimes, it's really hard to resist the temptation ::shudder::
CHAPTER FIVE (Of Cookies and Realizations)
Next to her cheap silicon I look minimal
That's why in front of your eyes I'm invisible
But you gotta know small things also count
You better put your feet on the ground
And see what it's about
--"Objection (Tango)" by Shakira
With a tired, tenative look, Philomena stood in front of the Slytherin dorm after dinner, waiting for Fiona to open the portrait hole. She wondered if maybe her new stepsister hadn't conveniently forgotten about their appointment and was debating whether or not to leave.
"What are you doing down here?" a voice hissed beside her. Philomena let out a screech and fell back into the person behind her, sending them both crashing to the floor with a thud.
"Malfoy! Geez! What do you do, float around the school?" Philomena exclaimed, squinting in the dark light. She heard a sigh.
"You know, I'm beginning to wonder if maybe you aren't a walking, talking death wish," he muttered. Philomena sniffed indignantly.
"I'd be offended if it was anyone else," she muttered. There was a pause.
"Get off of me."
Philomena's eyes widened as she scrambled to get out of his lap and stand. She blushed and was grateful for their dark surroundings. Draco managed to get to his feet, glaring at her.
"Lose more books?" he asked with a smirk.
"No. My mother sent a card," she answered haughtily, pulling at her robes.
"Why did Fiona get it?"
"She has an owl," Philomena answered as if should have been quite obvious. Philomena paused as he started to move for the portrait hole. She bit her lip and finally found her voice.
"I think she forgot," she murmured. Draco gave no reply, and she didn't press it. Instead, she leaned against the cool wall and prepared to wait. She had an eerie connection with her mother. For years they had lived alone together, and any sort of correspondence from her was worth waiting for, even if it was in a mildly depressing dungeon.
She watched him disappear through the open door, and waited to hear the definitive clank of it slamming shut, but it never came. She slowly got to her feet and edged closer. Looking in, she saw Draco's disappearing form. Fiona was sitting in the commons room, doing homework, obviously oblivious to Philomena's presence. She absently looked up, and gave a sour expression.
"Oh, it's you," she said, getting up from the chair. Philomena sighed.
"Do you have the note?"
"Yeah," Fiona answered, stalking through the commons room. Philomena was talking through the open portrait, dreading to step through. Fiona paused halfway through the room and threw an annoyed glance in Philomena's direction.
"Are you coming?"
Philomena obliged and slowly clamored after her stepsister. She led her towards the girl's dormitory and waited outside as Fiona found the note. She returned moments later and all but threw it at Philomena before slamming the door in her face. Blinking, Philomena slowly backed away and managed to find her own way to the commons room. The room was deserted, so she paused and ripped the small parchment open.
1 Phil-
2 Darling, sorry this isn't longer, but things are so hectic around her now, what with the marriage and moving. Enclosed is the address of our new house, I can't wait until you see it; it's absolutely beautiful! Please be patient with Fiona, this is a hard adjustment, I know, for both of you. I love you!
3 -Phyl
4
Philomena rolled her eyes. Her mother's full name was Phyllis, but she enjoyed, very much, that both of their names started with the same root and she could call herself, and her daughter, Phil. She looked at the parchment one last time before beginning to roll it up. Then, with a slight chirp, the parchment turned into a chocolate chip cookie. Phyllis Dillerwood had been one of the best transfiguration students to walk the halls of Hogwarts, even if she was American and could barely pronounce Latin, and had once turned her apple into a man-eating beast.
"Where'd that come from?" a voice asked behind her. Philomena jumped, but managed not to collide with anything nearby.
"My mom," she answered, turning to Draco who was staring at the cookie.
"Must not run in the family…" he muttered. Philomena glared at him.
"I'm getting better! Besides, you aren't the transfiguration master you think you are," she said indignantly.
"And yet, somehow better than you."
Philomena rolled her eyes, but couldn't come up with a response. So, with a huff, she turned on her heel, and charged towards the exit. She managed to make it to the door with only a slight stumble and was extra careful while walking around the corner.
Fiona emerged from the girls dormitory moments after Philomena left.
"So, she left?"
"Yeah," he murmured, sitting in one of the chair by the fire.
"You know…I'm going to have to spend Christmas with her," Fiona sighed.
"Have fun. Hope you don't die."
"I can't promise anything, she's a walking, talking-"
"Death wish."
"Well, I was going to say catastrophe, but death wish works too," Fiona said, slamming her book shut.
"It's just that…she doesn't even try! How am I going to live with her? I can barely stand the sight of her and my father expects me to somehow coexist with that disaster of a girl?!" Fiona exclaimed. Draco shrugged; Slytherins didn't do a lot of bonding. Fiona seemed aware of his discomfort and got up with a sigh. Pansy would be in the dorm room, and more open to "discuss" Philomena.
With a groan Draco shook his head and tried to clear his mind. It had been, mildly put, a strange week. Philomena had been, at the onset of this, a simple, clumsy, jovial Hufflepuff that wondered around Hogwarts, eating chocolate chip cookies, happily anonymous and very much uninterested in anything Slytherin. Now, however, it seemed every other day she was barging in here, demanding books, notes, cookies, and somehow always managing to inflict physical pain upon him. And now, though he would deny it to everyone, including himself, he was oddly aware of the strange color of her eyes and the way her nose wrinkled when she as mad or upset. An observation he wished he had never made.
Philomena sat down to lunch with a sigh. The first quidditch match of the season was tomorrow and the whole school bursting with energy. Margaret smiled as she took her seat next to Philomena, unaware of the eyes that were following her friend's every movement.
"You excited about tomorrow?"
"What? Quidditch? I guess," Philomena sighed. Margaret laughed.
"You're not telling me that you aren't the least bit excited about the match between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor," Margaret said, putting special emphasis on the last house. Philomena blushed, and absently poked at her lunch.
"Very funny Margaret," she said.
"I'm sorry…I couldn't help myself, it's just so…cute that you have a crush on Oliver Wood!" Margaret exclaimed. Philomena didn't bother to quiet her friend, because it was true. Ever since her first year, she had harbored a rather large crush on older boy. But, she shot Margaret a sour glance and continued to pick at her sandwich.
"If you bothered to pay attention, Margaret, you'd know that Wood graduated already," she sighed, slumping onto her elbow.
"He did? Really? Geez, where was I?"
"Probably too busy gawking at the Ravenclaw team," Philomena shot back. Margaret colored, and found her lunch suddenly interesting.
"I'm assuming that's why you're not exactly thrilled about the new season," Margaret said. Philomena sighed, still nursing a broken heart. She remembered when she had accidentally dumped her dinner all over him on her first day. It had been love at first site.
"Yeah, I suppose," Philomena said, between bites.
"Well, maybe you'll find someone new," Margaret said. Philomena let out a moan.
"There will never be anyone else!"
"Maybe Wood has a younger sibling?"
"It wouldn't be the same…he was perfection!" Philomena groaned. Margaret stifled a giggle with her apple.
"Maybe you should broaden your horizons?" Margaret suggested.
"What?"
"To other houses?"
Philomena let out a pained, heart-broken sigh.
"Yeah right."
"No, seriously, what about…" Margaret paused and looked around the Great Hall at the tables.
"Yeah…?"
"What about Slytherin?" Margaret asked, her eyes falling on a certain person.
"No!" Philomena exclaimed adamantly.
"Why not?"
"It's Slytherin, isn't that enough? I mean, who needs an excuse…besides, when has a Slytherin ever looked beyond their own house?"
"There's always a first for-"
"Don't even finish that sentence, honestly, I cannot believe what I'm hearing!"
"I'm not going to spend the rest of the year trying to get you to snap out of your little Wood obsession!" Margaret shot back.
"You're one to talk about obsessions!" Philomena glowered. Margaret looked genuinely hurt, and got up abruptly. Margaret had fancied a boy in Ravenclaw; they had Muggle Studies together, but he ignored her. Last year, she had mustered up enough courage to ask him to the Yule Ball, only to find out he was dating someone else. It had hurt Margaret, and she still wasn't quite over the sting. Philomena closed her eyes and slouched in her seat. She knew it had been a cheap shot, but she was really getting sick of Margaret's constant teasing. Slowly, Philomena got to her feet and wandered back to the Hufflepuff tower, feeling rather dejected.
As she blundered her way through the Great Hall, she felt a presence beside her and couldn't help the sour expression on her face.
"What?" she glowered, turning around to face Fiona.
"I want to know what's going on between you and-"
"Me and who? I'm not dating anyone, I'm not trying to date anyone, and the only thing I really want to do right now is disappear for a few days!" Philomena sputtered, nearly colliding with a group of first-years. Fiona sneered, then turned away and walked back towards her table. She had never seen the mild-mannered Hufflepuff so flustered and saw that her shadow, Margaret, had disappeared.
Philomena collapsed in the library, feeling extremely confused. She hadn't meant to snap at Margaret, but things suddenly were so weird. Her mother had married a supposed Death Eater, she was now related through marriage to a Slytherin, but worst of all, she swallowed heard, worst of all, she felt a sudden affection for the most unexpected of people. A person she knew nothing about, a person that had been nothing but mean, obnoxious, and cold to her, and a person that would otherwise repulse her. But, somehow, he didn't, and she was so confused she didn't what to think or say anymore.