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Chapter 45: Sleeping Angel
"I like you, silly!"
Lee's eyes widened in surprise. "Are you telling me the truth?" he asked curiously. He was hoping the excitement he felt at this prospect wasn't showing on his face. He hoped he was still acting cool.
Natalie gave him a lopsided smile. "No, I'm teasing you," she teased.
He looked at her and wondered at how he hadn't noticed how pretty she was before. "You're gorgeous do you know that?"
A nice scarlet graced her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. Even though she was blushing she leaned down to kiss him lightly on the lips. He happily responded.
***
On the other end of the Infirmary Mitch sat next to Katie holding her hand.
Madame Pomfrey placed her hand lightly on his shoulder. "Mr. Reed it usually takes a little bit for them to wake up…I'm assuming that's why you're here? You're waiting for Miss Bell to wake up? If you would like, I can call you down here when she does. You really ought to be doing something productive," she berated him.
"I am doing something productive, Madame Pomfrey," he argued quietly.
Her eyebrows nearly rose to the cap she wore day in and day out. "Well then, if you feel that way, why don't you stay?" she offered as if it was her idea that he stay here all along.
Mitch rolled his eyes since she was standing behind him and couldn't see the gesture. "Well I don't mind if I do," he replied.
She patted his shoulder twice before leaving him.
Mitch waited until everyone that was able to move was a safe, private distance away from him before leaning over to look at Katie. His eyes followed the line of eyelashes as his breath graced her soft white cheeks.
If he forgot why she was here, she looked like a sleeping angel.
Sleeping angel. Sleeping Angel, that's what you are Katie Bell.
Natalie Pickett giggled from somewhere behind him. The sound made him smile and think that not everything in life was terrible. And however terrible it was, it would be alright in the end.
He traced her facial bone structure with his forefinger. Her skin was warm still and that made him feel better. The warmth was a reminder that she wasn't gone from him completely or out of reach but rather she was still within reach.
Mitch firmly continued to believe that she would wake up. It was just a matter of when.
***
The boys had returned from Quidditch practice only to be hauled by the girls down to the Infirmary. Neither Ron nor Harry knew what they were doing while they stood over Pansy Parkinson's bed still in their practice robes, hot and sweaty because they hadn't taken a shower yet.
Hermione had immediately noticed Mitch next to Katie and both she and Parvati squealed delightedly at the scene. Mitch hadn't seemed to notice.
Then the girls giggled and whispered back and forth for a moment when they saw Lee and Natalie talking. Ron and Harry rolled their eyes.
Pansy's bed was next to Padma's so Parvati said hi to her sister, who was resting, and promised she would see her tomorrow if not later tonight.
"Exactly what are we doing here?" Harry asked for the hundredth time, only because he still hadn't gotten a straight answer from either of the girls.
Ron jabbed Harry in the ribs. "I think we're just supposed to be looking at 'er. You know, we're supposed to be watching her sleep."
A cough sounded from behind them. Ron and Harry turned around to find Seamus still wearing his school clothes (he was benched from practice and games for a bit) as he made his way to Lavender's bedside. The closer he got to his girlfriend the stupider and goofier his grin grew.
"Good grief," Ron muttered.
Harry chuckled but not before both Hermione and Parvati turned to give them a look filled with daggers.
Ron jabbed Harry again. "Look Harry!" he said in a girlish voice. "Isn't she just the most precious thing you ever saw? She's so beautiful! She's like a sleeping angel!" he teased and while Harry found this highly amusing, Hermione and Parvati did not.
Hermione grabbed Ron's hand and began dragging him away. "If you can't behave respectfully Ronald Weasley then we'll just leave!"
"Us too!" Parvati haughtily announced, dragging Harry out of the Infirmary behind her.
Hermione whirled on Ron when they got out of hearing range from the Infirmary. "How insensitive can you be Ron? Pansy is in there suffering because she didn't tell Malfoy how she felt about him! She is suffering Ron!"
Ron wasn't about to let her win this argument though. "You know what else Hermione? That same Pansy Parkinson who you're all the sudden defending is the same Pansy Parkinson who put you through four years of shit! And not just you but Harry and I also!" he shouted.
"Don't swear!" was the only thing that popped out of her mouth.
At the moment Harry was glad Parvati and he weren't fighting…or at least he was happy they were having a silent fight. He and Parvati both looked around to see the wall paintings looking at the two irritably. Some were whispering amongst themselves, "I bet those are the two young Gryffindors Vi is always talking about." "What are there names again?" "Well, he's a Weasley of course but what about the girl?" "Oh I know who she is! She's Hermione Granger…"
"You actually empathize or sympathize or whatever the hell the word is with Pansy and you're worried about me swearing?" he roared angrily.
"You're impossible Ron, absolutely impossible!" she screamed before stomping away angrily to Merlin knew where…although they all had a pretty good idea.
Parvati rolled her eyes while giving Harry a quick look. "I better go after her," she said with a sigh before running off to follow her roommate who was now probably in tears.
Ron and Harry passed confused looks onto one another before they both rolled their eyes and decided to go up to the Common Room. A game of Exploding Snap would do them both good they decided.
***
Carmen watched under the disguise of sleep as her best friend and her crush were…together. She saw Mitch look at Katie with such reverence that Katie should just come out of the coma. She watched as the fabulous four waltzed into the Infirmary like they owned it. She watched as Hermione drug Ron out and Parvati did the same with the laughing Harry.
And she continued watching Natalie and Lee. Her heart was breaking and it hurt. It hurt worse than she ever thought it would.
Part of her wanted to kill her best friend, really kill her but another part of her wanted that other part of her to be happy for Natalie. Natalie sure looked happy as she talked to Lee thinking her best friend was sleeping peacefully rather than watching them.
She couldn't even cry yet, she was so dehydrated from her sleep. That was what was most frustrating, that she couldn't even cry.
Carmen watched as Natalie turned around to again look at her best friend. Carmen didn't even realize she hadn't shut her eyes yet to again pretend she was sleeping but that split second was all it took.
"Carmen, you're awake!" she yelped, obviously startled when she saw her friend's eyes open.
Carmen continued staring at Natalie, unable to speak.
Sorry to leave you with a cliffhanger! (OK, I'm really not.) I hope you enjoyed these last two chapters! Please review! And as always, thanks for reading!
I'm told the war was officially declared over two or so days ago, so now I ask that you all pray/light a candle/meditate/whatever-it-is-you-do for those who lost loved ones, no matter what side they were on. And I ask you give support to our government and I pray personally that you pray our government(s) make the right decisions in the coming days. I apologize if this request has offended you.
Falling in love with someone isn't always going to be easy…
Anger…tears…laughter.
It's when you want to be together despite it all.
That's when you truly love another. I'm sure of it.
~ Keiichi Morisato
