1st Update: Dec. 30, 2003
Chapter 3 - The Photoshoot
"Tania! Tania! Wait for me!" Tania turned to see a puffing Roger Davies running to catch up to her after breakfast. He dodged many students making their way to class and finally got to his destination.
"Tania! Hello! Thank you for waiting for me. Did you sleep well last night?"
"Good morning, and yes, I did, thank you."
"Oh..well, I didn't see you in the common room last night."
"I turned in early..."
"I heard the dormatories for fifth year girls is full...where do you sleep?"
Tania turned to Roger, exasperated.
"Roger, is this conversation going anywhere?"
Roger looked slightly embarassed. He gazed at the pictures on the wall and ignored the people around him who were snickering at his obvious attempts.
"Well, the thing is, I never got a straight answer from you. I believe the first Hogsmeade weekend is sometime in October and if you'd like to go with -"
Before he could finish, a tall lady came up to them. Tania recognized her as one of the photographers from Witch Weekly.
"Good morning students!" The lady was pulsing with enthusiasm. "May I introduce myself? My name is Claire Olcott and I am the supervising photographer for Witch Weekly."
Roger looked very miffed about being interrupted for the second time but Ms. Olcott took no notice.
"Now, my dear," she said to Tania. "May I interest you in a chance to appear in Witch Weekly?"
Tania smiled but shook her head.
"No, that's alright. It's my first day of classes and I would like to -"
"Nonsense! You'll go with me, won't you Tania? This is so exciting, a photoshoot together!" Roger beamed at Tania.
Ms. Olcott eyed Roger with a slight distaste.
"Er, yes dear. Listen to your boyfriend here. Come!"
"Roger's not my boyfriend, and no, I don't think I will. I really need to find my way -"
"Nonsense! You have the perfect looks! Come along dear!" Ms. Olcott placed two hands on Tania's back and steered her down the hall towards a small room, leaving Roger standing there. It took him a moment to realize he was being left behind and quickly ran after them.
"Oh Ms. Olcott, Tania, wait for me!"
As Tania was being forced down the hall she tried to protest but Ms. Olcott was a very experienced business woman.
"Really, Ms. Olcott I -"
"Honey, this will be an exciting photoshoot, a chance you would be crazy to pass up!"
Tania sighed. You'd be surprised...she thought to herself.
"What's our first class today?" Angelina asked Fred as they made their way through a throng of students.
"I thought you weren't talking to me?
"Well, it's your lucky day."
"Oh." Fred smiled to himself. "We have double transfiguration."
"Yuck."
"No, double yuck."
"Whatever...where's George? We still need to plan our welcome for Tania."
"Why do you hate her? You don't even know her."
"I don't hate her."
"You sure act like you do."
"Why would I hate her? I don't even know her."
Fred sighed.
"Anyway, answer my question. Where's George?"
"He slept in today, seeing as there were no pranks to play. You know our schedule."
"Oh. Why are you up then, instead of rushing into class five minutes late?"
Fred gave Angelina a sly glance.
"Because I wanted to have breakfast with you, m'lady."
Angelina rolled her eyes but could not help but smile a bit.
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George hurriedly shoved down a quick breakfast and cursed Fred. Trust his twin brother to turn off his alarm clock on the very first day of classes, just so he'd be late. He looked at his schedule and saw Double Transfiguration. Bloody hell! McGonagall'll be pissed if I'm late for her class! Dammit Fred!
He downed a last glass of pumpkin juice and rushed out of the Great Hall. He glanced at his watch and saw only two minutes till class started. Cursing Fred some more and vowing to get him back, George ran as fast as he could, turning sharp corners. He was just about to turn the last corner to the hallway where McGonagall's classroom was when he ran straight into someone, knocking them over.
"Ooof! I'm sorry, bloody sorry." George got up quickly and peered at the unfortunate soul who had been in his way. He saw a tubby middle-aged man and realized it was one of the photographers for Witch Weekly.
The man slowly got up and smiled a jolly smile at George.
"S'all right, m'boy. No harm done. In fact, you're perfect! We need one more person for our photoshoot, how would yeh like to be in it?" Without waiting for an answer, he shoved George into a classroom on his right.
George breathed a sigh of relief. Although a photoshoot was not exactly his cup of tea, it would allow him to be excused from class for the rest of the day, something he was rather glad of because the remainder of his day consisted of Double Potions and one class of Divination. He looked around the classroom and saw around fifteen other students. He recognized Roger Davies, Ravenclaw's Quidditch Captain, and gave him a small nod in hello. But other than that, he did not recognize many of the people. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he casually scanned the room in a bored sort of way when suddenly, his eyes fell upon a girl whom Davies was attempting to impress. She looked bored and turned away from Roger. He found her eyes wandering around the room, perhaps looking for a way out of the conversation with Davies. Suddenly her dark eyes flickered up and met his gaze. A sudden shot of electricity ran through George and he found himself unable to turn away from this girl. He was now acutely aware of how attractive this girl was, how lovely her clear skin was, and how it contrasted perfectly with her dark and sleek hair. How the pale pink of her cheek gave her the look of roses and cream and how her eyebrows were arched in the most delicate way. Then down her body, her breasts, small but perfect, her legs not too long, but strong. She didn't seem like the typical giggly girls George had known for his five years at Hogwarts. She was something else, something exotic. Something rich, and he found himself wanting her. The girl stared at him for a little longer and finally broke the gaze. George drew in a sharp breath and felt the excitement slowly ebb away.
"Your attention please! Attention, students!" Ms. Olcott called out. The chatter in the room stopped immediately and all eyes were fixed upon her. "Thank you! Now it is time for the excitement! Madam Malkin, the clothes stylist for today's photoshoot, has come out with her latest robes and fashions! Now, girls please line up on this side of the room, and boys on this side to recieve your measurements and make-up and get your hair done!"
George made his way over to the line where Ms. Olcott had pointed out for the boys. He found Roger Davies standing close by him and leaned in for a chat.
"Hey, Roger."
"George, hello. Looking forward to some good Quidditch?"
"Er, yes. Um," George looked quickly around the room and then back at Roger. "Er, Roger, who were you talking to back there?"
Roger's face lit up and he smiled the biggest and goofiest smile George had ever seen.
"Oh, her! Isn't she wonderful? Very pretty, and smart and -"
"Yes, uh Roger, what's her name?"
"Oh! That's -"
But before he could finish, Madam Malkin stalked over and started measuring the boys. She gave them new looking robes and very smart looking uniforms and sent them into portable change rooms. When they came out, she led George to a chair and pointed Roger to another and began fussing over their hair and applying a slight amount of camera make-up. Finally she was satisfied and presented them (along with some other made-up boys) to Ms. Olcott and her three photographers.
George turned back to continue his conversation with Roger but before he could start, Ms. Olcott began giving directions to the students. She grabbed George by the arm.
"You, boy, what's your name?"
"George Weasley."
"Alright George, you'll be partnered with this young lady here for the shoot."
George turned to see who his partner would be and drew in another sharp breath. It was the girl Davies had been talking to. He noticed that she looked ever-more attractive in the new robes and that there was no make-up on her face. She's beautiful enough as she is, George thought to himself. Tania stood surveying the new clothes on her. They were certainly nice, and very comfortable. She was about to turn and ask one of Madam Malkin's helpers how much they would cost when the red-headed boy she had caught staring at her walked up.
"Hello, I'm George Weasley, your, uh, partner for the photoshoot?"
Tania surveyed his face, handsome yet mischevious. Freckles were sprinkled on his nose and his red hair (tidy and neat from his 'make-over') looked soft. His eyes were a deep brown with flecks of gold scattered here and there. She smiled.
Oh Lord, the most beautiful girl is standing in front of me right now, George thought to himself. He opened his mouth to ask her name but was interrupted yet again.
Ms. Olcott stood on a school chair to make herself taller than she already was. "Attention again, please! We will now begin taking shoots! Please led your partner by the hand over to this area." At this, she waved vaguely to an area behind her where the photographers were standing ready. "And please, no talking! I'd like to be able to hear myself think!"
George sighed and shut the question up in his mouth. He looked at this girl and offered his hand. The girl turned her attention to him and slipped her hand into his. George felt another shot of excitement leap from her hand to his and turned to see if she had felt the same excitement. But if she had, she certainly did not react.
Tania slipped her small white hand into George's opened palm. She marveled at how perfectly they fit together, like a puzzle piece. George's hand was warm and soft, but not sweaty. Much more pleasant than Roger's, she thought to herself and rolled her eyes when she remembered how he had grabbed her hand and practically followed her around the room earlier that day.
"Over here! You, red-head, bring your partner up here."
"No, Barn, I think they will look better over here, let him straddle the chair and give her some books, for props, you know."
"No, no you dingle snuffle! Have her sit at the desk concentrating and have him walk around her with the books."
"How about if they both stand with books, looking at each other beside the professor's desk?"
"No, how - "
Tania sighed. It was going to be a long day.
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"George! Where were you all day?" Fred dumped his books on top of the Gryffindor table and immediately began helping himself to some mashed potatoes and gravy. George sat picking at his dinner, deep in thought. He was remembering how wonderful the day had been. The photographers from Witch Weekly had kept him and the girl busy all day and had not allowed them to talk at all. Although he still hadn't got a chance to ask her for her name, George had been able to touch her, place his arms around her and stare deeply into her eyes. Apparently the photographers were also hopeless romantics and had thought George and the girl had a lot of chemistry. Shame he hadn't even been able to ask her name though.
George looked up now at his twin and suddenly remembered the unwelcome practical joke that morning.
"Trying to think of what I should do with your heart-speckled underwear, you prat! Shall I string it up on the flag pole for all to see?"
Fred laughed. "Hey mate, if you expose me, you're just exposing yourself too. What? What's the matter? Didn't you say you wanted to sleep in?"
George just glared.
"So, are you going to answer my question? Where were you? Oh! Did you get chosen for that photoshoot?"
George nodded and sighed happily. Fred gave him a strange look but he ignored it.
Suddenly Angelina bounced out of nowhere.
"GEORGE! I have the PERFECT idea to welcome Tania! Hahaha! You're going to love it! Come on, hurry up and eat! I'll explain it later in the common room, see you there." With that, Angelina bounced back out of the Great Hall.