In the morning, Rebecca was a woken by Sara and Jacquelyn who really
thought nothing of her being in the same clothes because she had that late
meeting with Snape and they didn't know when she had really gotten in.
"Hey sleepy, you going to class?" Sara asked as Rebecca slipped out of her bed.
"Yeah," Rebecca yawned as walked to her closet to throw fresh clothes on.
"How did your meeting go last night?" Sara asked as she gathered up her books for the day.
"My head was spinning after I got done with all my notes on the potion," Rebecca started and then told her about cutting the wolfsbane. As Rebecca finished brushing her hair, she said, "And I have another meeting tonight at eight where I am actually brew the potion."
"Really?"
"Yeah," Rebecca apprehensively responded.
"Nervous?"
"Extremely."
"Well if you need to talk about it you know you can."
"Yeah, thank you."
Sara knew that if Rebecca had not been getting ready for classes she would have said more, but she need to get ready for classes.
"Well, I am going to go down to breakfast. I'll see you there."
"Yeah I'll be down after I get my bag packed." Rebecca went to get her bag ready for the day and realized that it wasn't in its usual place.
'Oh, where is it?' Rebecca thought as she frantically hunted for it.
After a few moments she decided that she couldn't have brought it up with her last night, so she rushed down to the common room to see if it was down there. Charlie was down stairs waiting for her, when Rebecca rushed down the steps and start looking for her bag.
"What ya looking for?" Charlie asked as he watched his girlfriend become more and more concerned.
"My book bag," Rebecca responded in a wavering voice as she thought, 'Did I take that down to the Slytherin's house? No I couldn't have, but if I didn't where is it.'
"Oh, well last time I saw it you had it on your shoulder heading out to that meeting with Snape."
Rebecca stopped for a moment. It all made sense. She didn't bring it back from there.
Rebecca turned quickly and practically ran out of the room as Charlie said, "Speaking of that meeting how did it go?"
She was already out the door.
"I stayed up to ask you that," Charlie muttered and then gave out a sigh as he watched the door shut behind her.
He picked up his bag and headed to breakfast slightly depressed about the events of the prior night and the new morning.
As Charlie took a seat next to Greg, James asked, "Why so glum, chum?"
Greg turned to see that his best mate wearing a very sober expression and instantly asked, "What's the matter?"
Charlie took a deep breathe and slowly let it out before he started, "Rebecca is... She is... I mean, she has got a lot to do and..."
Sara couldn't stand Charlie having such a hard time figuring out what he wanted to say that she tried to say it for him, "Since she was in the Slytherin room, there's something different about her."
"Exactly, I can't tell what she is up to and she won't tell me."
"It's like you two aren't connecting then?" Jacquelyn asked.
"Um, ... YEAH. That's exactly it." Charlie placed his hand ruffly on the table.
Greg and James looked at each other and rolled their eyes. They really didn't want to be listening to that conversation that early in the morning.
"Mate," Greg interjected. "You're forgetting that after she got out of the infirmary she was told of her potion tasks. It's a difficult potion. Rebecca even said so herself. She knows that she has to do it to Snape's standards, which is higher for her than anyone else in our year and maybe even the whole school so that she can stay here. How would you feel about that challenge? I say I would be stressed out. Add in her learning quidditch, studying for O.W.L.s, and homework. I say our dear friend is burning both ends of the candle and is barely able to keep herself in the loop much less get you up to speed with what is going on."
"But..."
"But what? You're the guy that always said that you didn't have time for a girlfriend because you were too busy. Well congratulations buddy, you found a girl that doesn't mind, because she is busy herself. Enjoy it. You know once things settle down Rebecca will be right back beside you and let you know everything that went on. She doesn't hold things back from you once she starts tell you things. You know that."
Charlie looked at James who could only say, "You know he's right. Just be patient. You'll see."
Charlie sighed and looked at the two girls of the group who had suddenly become fascinated with their breakfast. Obviously, they didn't want to be questioned on what they thought if Charlie didn't like what Greg had said.
Charlie let out another deep breathe and said, "You're right. ... Please just keep reminding me of that."
"We will," James and Greg responded together as they watched Charlie start to filling plate.
Anna and Colin came to the table right after the Charlie started eating. They both look tired as they took their seats, Anna beside A.J. and Colin next to her.
"You two didn't sleep well did you?" A.J asked as Anna yawned.
"Just a restless night," Anna fibbed and Colin shook his head to say that they same went for him.
Charlie looked down the table that the two and noticed Rebecca with her bag walking into the Great Hall. She looked exhausted more so than Anna and Colin who were still yawning, but she had this sweet little smile on her face.
Charlie started to grin at the sight until Rebecca turned around and stood there as Adam Harker walked in the door.
He had been holding for Rebecca to walk in and once he entered the two stood and talked for a moment and then walked to their respective tables. Charlie was dumbstruck not by the fact that Rebecca had been talking to someone when she came in, but by who she was talking to. Like Rebecca, Charlie had only on occasion heard Harker talk and so Charlie pegged him as the strong silent type, but from what Charlie could see Rebecca and the Ravenclaw were having a good conversation and Harker was talking just as much as Rebecca was if not more.
Rebecca walked down the table and sat next to Charlie who still had a puzzled look on his face.
"What's the matter?" she asked stuffing her bag under the table and starting to fill her plate.
"When did you start talking with Harker?"
"We ran into each other in the hall," Rebecca said and then in a laugh, "literally."
Rebecca started giggling from the memory. Colin and Anna perked up a little to see if they could catch a hidden meaning in Rebecca's next sentence.
"It was the funniest thing ever," Rebecca continued through her laughter. "I was rushing down to the potion room to get my bag; because I accidentally left it there and I was rounding the corner to get to the stairs Adam was right there. We both hit the floor."
Rebecca laughed harder recalling the events. Colin and Anna were tired enough that they started laughing too; leaving everyone else wondering what is so funny.
"Guess you have to be tired to laugh at it," Jacquelyn whispered to Sara.
Charlie however looked at his girlfriend with a questioning eye and couldn't help but ask, "You met up with him before you made it to the potion room?"
Rebecca instantly stopped laughing and slowly said, "Yeah, why?"
"So he went down to the room with you?"
Charlie was getting a little more intense so Greg faked a cough that sound a lot like "Stress."
"Yeah." Rebecca looked at Charlie not sure what was going through his head.
"Why?"
"Why?" Rebecca gave Charlie an even more confused look.
"Yeah, I want to know why?"
"Because we were talking and I need to get down there and then up here," Rebecca defensively said. "Instead of stopping the conversation he walked with me."
As Charlie and Rebecca silently stared at each other, their friends exchanged looks wondering what was going to happen.
"What were you talking about?" Charlie finally asked after a few minutes.
Rebecca eye about popped out of her head. She couldn't believe he had the nerve to ask that this time for she had talked to plenty of guys that he could have done it before and hadn't.
"Not that it really is any of your business," Rebecca harshly responded. "But we got on the subject of vampires and he was telling me what he knew about vampires' phobia of garlic. It took him a while because I kept asking questions. ... Now excuse me but I promised to see Cathrine this morning, or do you have a problem with that?"
Rebecca didn't wait for an answer. She got up, grabbed her bag, and left the room.
"What is the matter with you?" Greg asked turning towards Charlie. "Mate, she looks dead on her feet and we have practice tonight..."
"And she told us this morning that she had another meeting for her potion challenge tonight at eight," added Sara.
"See she is stressed out and you jumping down her throat because she was talking to a guy, especially a stand up one like Harker, didn't help anything. You know Becca didn't like what you were insinuating. ... She independent and that is what you like about her, right?"
"Yes," Charlie said putting his head in his hands. "I need to go talk to her."
Practically everyone lunged at Charlie to keep him sitting.
"Let Becca have her time. She needs to cool down or else she is going to get you like she got Ryan," Colin whispered to his friend.
Charlie looked at the prankster and mouthed, "Colors."
"Yeah and black eyes. So calm down."
Unfortunately, it was hard for Charlie to keep himself calm. Every time he turned around there was something that irked him with Rebecca's actions towards him.
They had walked up to lunch after Herbology, where they had barely said two words to each other. Lauren came rushing towards Rebecca and frantically thrust a paper into the fifth year's hand while saying that Harvey had given it to her.
Charlie was about to ask what was on the paper, when Rebecca broke out into laughter and rushed to show Colin the paper. It took Colin a moment and then he started to laugh as the two walked in to lunch together leaving Lauren and Charlie in the hall alone wondering what was so funny about the paper.
When the two came into entered into the Great Hall they didn't find Rebecca and Colin at sitting at their table, but standing between the Gryffindor table and the Ravenclaw laughing with Lennon, Jenna, Kurt, Kevin, Audrey, and Adam.
Charlie didn't think anything about this until when he tried to get Rebecca to tell what was so funny she didn't answer, just kept laughing. He tried relentlessly until Rebecca's laughter turned into anger and she was about exploded. Luckily, Charlie managed to stop himself.
When Rebecca got up to go to Defense class she about ran into Harker. The two laughed and started walking to class talking. Charlie got up from his seat and stayed several feet behind the two.
As he exited the room he heard the voice of Ryan say, "It looks like Rebecca might have finally figure out that Weasley is a loser. You might go up and talk to her, mate. She could be trying to find someone new."
"Looks to me like Harker is staking his claim," Russel gloomily responded knowing full well that if he hadn't have done anything to Rebecca he might have been the next in line for dating Rebecca.
Charlie hurried away, because he didn't want to hear about Russel lamenting the horrible stuff he had done to Rebecca.
The rest of the day Charlie stuck closer to Rebecca than he really had. He wasn't about to let any guy especially one like Russel think that Rebecca was looking for another guy while they were still going out. This didn't go over to well with Rebecca who was finding it hard to get everything done that she need to with Charlie constantly being at her elbow.
On Wednesday morning, she was about to explode from this when a brown barn owl dropped a package on her empty plate. Rebecca ripped off the wrapping, mostly because she was trying to take out some of her aggression. She took the top of the box off and looked in side. There were lots of white puzzle pieces and a letter.
"What's that?" Charlie asked curious of all the puzzle pieces.
Rebecca looked at him darkly as she picked up the letter and read it.
"What's going on?" Sara said as she took her seat at the table.
"The lawyer decided that I need something else to do," Rebecca crankily responded.
"What do you have to do?" Sara responded in an appalled tone.
"I have an all white puzzle that I have to put together without magic or anyone else's help." Rebecca let out a sigh.
"When do you have to have it done?"
"Next week. I guess I'll have to work on it this weekend."
"Morning, everyone," Greg said as he joined the group. "Did you guys see that it is a Hogsmeade weekend?"
"It is?" Sara asked excited.
"Yeah, so what are we going to do there this time?" Greg asked addressing the whole group.
When Greg looked at her, Rebecca said, "I won't be going so please don't ask me."
"Why not?"
"I want to catch up with some sleep and also I have this puzzle to work."
"That's cool. So Charlie what do you want to do?"
"I won't be going either," Charlie quietly responded.
"Why not?" Rebecca asked her blood almost boiling.
"I would rather just stay here with you."
"Well, I don't plan on leaving my dorm room so you won't be here with me so you might as well go and stay out of my hair." Rebecca slammed the box top back on and stormed off.
Charlie let out a sigh and shrugged to the rest of his friends. No one knew what to say to comfort him. They all just hoped that it would blow all over by then end of the week when Rebecca would be able to catch up on some sleep.
Everything did seem to be calming down between Rebecca and Charlie when Saturday rolled around. Charlie and Rebecca were able to get through short conversations without a row occurring, but much longer and one of the two if not both were upset.
On Saturday, Charlie reluctantly left for Hogsmeade with the rest of his group. The girls assured him that Rebecca was still asleep unaware that Rebecca hadn't really slept all night and was sitting in her bed with the curtains pulled working on the white puzzle.
About an hour after group left, Rebecca moved down to the Great Hall because she didn't have enough room on her puzzle. She set out the pieces that she had already gotten together and started working on some other.
It wasn't long before a deep voice said, "That has got to be tough."
Rebecca looked up to see Harker standing on the other side of the table looking at the all white puzzle.
"Oh, it is," Rebecca laughed as she somehow magically (figuratively not literally) found two more edge pieces that fit together.
"Need help?"
"I can't have any, but thanks for the offer." Rebecca got another set of piece that fit. "You can sit and talk with me. I am having better luck talking with you."
"Sure, why not? It beats studying for O.W.L.s," Adam said as he took as seat. "So why can't you have help with this?"
"Um, I got it from the lawyer's and I was told I couldn't have any," Rebecca started and saw that Adam was confused by what she said so she elaborated explaining a little about the lawyer and the will with stipulations as she got a few more pieces of the puzzle together.
"Oh," Adam said at the end. "So is that the reason you came here from Beauxbatons?"
"Yep."
"So do you keep in touch with anyone from there?"
"Um, yeah, my friend Stacy writes me, but I haven't heard from her in a while, but I think that she's studying for O.W.L.s. Of course, I haven't had time to write her either so it isn't like I can be too upset about it."
"That's cool that you're pen pals now."
"Yeah, Have you ever had a pen pal?"
"Yeah, actually I still have one."
"Really where are they from?"
"Actually she is from Beauxbatons. I think she knew while you were there. She is about 5' 10" with blonde hair and green eyes."
"Kalie?" Rebecca started to smile and the two started talking about Kalie and how Adam knew her.
"We're actually neighbors, but we didn't get along to well so both of us were glad when we went to separate schools. I think it was third year and there was an opportunity to get a pen pal from another school."
"Oh, yeah, I remember that. I think I had someone from Durmstang."
"Yeah, there was several school involved. Well Kalie and I ended up getting each others letter and we didn't use each others name in the letters for a long time. And then that summer I figured out that it was her."
"Oh so it was like a 'Shop around the Corner' situation."
"Yeah," Adam said as Rebecca continued to put her pieces in place. The two continued talking into the afternoon.
Charlie walked into the Great Hall thinking that he had imagined hearing Rebecca's laughter and just wanted to assure himself that it wasn't. He saw Rebecca working on her puzzle smiling at Adam who was of course smiling back. The words that Ryan and Russel had said came straight to his mind. Adam got up unaware that Charlie had come into the room until he was walking away.
"Weasley," Adam said when he passed the Gryffindor.
"Harker," Charlie coolly responded as he walked towards Rebecca.
"Hey! How was Hogsmeade?" Rebecca happily responded as she saw Charlie coming towards her. She had only need to put in a few more pieces of the puzzle and was feeling really good about everything. Rebecca was also excited to tell Charlie about Kalie and Adam. The look on Charlie's face wiped the smile off of Rebecca's face.
"What's the matter?" she whispered concerned about Charlie as he took a seat in front of her. "Did something happen at Hogsmeade?"
"No," Charlie darkly responded. "I thought you weren't going to leave your dorm room today?"
"There wasn't enough room so I moved down here."
Rebecca put the last piece into place and smiled up at him as all the lines in the puzzle disappeared, but she instantly stopped smiling when she noticed Charlie still wore a scowl on his face.
They sat there in silence for a moment and the Charlie in a defensive tone asked, "Why could Adam sit here while you did the puzzle but I had to be sent to Hogsmeade?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean why couldn't I hang out with you while you did this?"
"Maybe because you have been at my elbow all week and I am starting to find it distracting."
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"It means that right at the moment I am thankful when I don't have to reason with you so that I can off by myself."
Charlie was about to say something he would probably regret, when Greg walked in with Sara.
"Hey, you two!" Greg cheerful said.
Sensing that the couple was in another row, Sara looked for something that would distract the two from what they were fighting about.
"Rebecca you got the puzzle down!" squealed Sara happy for her friend to have the difficult puzzle done.
"Yeah, at least that is one thing down," Rebecca responded getting up from the table and walking out with the white board that was her puzzle.
Charlie was about to get up and follow her, when Greg put his hand on his friend's should and looked at Sara who instantly turned and left the room.
"Okay Sara is going to calm Becca down and I am going to get you calmed down," Greg started as Charlie brooded slightly. He then went into another speech about Rebecca being stressed out and everything else he had been saying for the past week.
After about a half an hour Sara came back and nodded to signal that she had calmed down Rebecca at Greg who nodded back to let her know that he had done the same with Charlie.
Sara and Greg thought that they had the two calmed down enough that they would be okay for the rest of the weekend, so they allowed Rebecca and Charlie to be around each other without one of them around. Unfortunately they were wrong.
Rebecca walked out of the Great Hall after breakfast on Sunday planning to go to the library by herself, but Charlie was most insistent that he go with her.
"Charlie you don't need to go," Rebecca said for about the third time.
"But I want to go," Charlie insisted.
"Well I don't want you to go," Rebecca hissed exasperated.
"Why not?"
"I just need some time by myself."
"Are you sure you don't want to just spend time with your new boyfriend?"
Rebecca's jaw dropped and she could feel the tears getting ready to start, "You think I am cheating on you?!"
"Well, it isn't like we are spending any time together and you're always around Harker."
"Charlie, you have been following me around all week. I can barely get away from you. I am not cheating on you so please, give me a break. ... I feel like I am getting smothered here," Rebecca said tears welling up in her eyes.
Charlie's jaw dropped this time. He had nothing to respond to that comment.
Rebecca looked at him in the eyes and then walked up the steps as Charlie sat down on the steps knowing that she was technically right. He was sort of smothering her.
Charlie sat there for a moment wondering why he was being so smothering to Rebecca. He had never had a problem giving her space before.
'She always came back when she walked away,' Charlie thought. 'I need to get a grip. Rebecca is too straight forward and a caring person that isn't going to hurt me on purpose."
"Weasley, can I talk to you?" a deep voice said breaking Charlie's train of thought.
The Gryffindor looked up to see Harker standing there.
Charlie nodded and Adam continued, "I don't know what exactly is going on with you and Rebecca, but I have noticed that if you see me talking to her, a row usually ensues. Grant it compared to the dramatics of Slytherin's Burk, it isn't noticeable to anyone but the people around you. I just wanted to let you know that if those rows happen because..." Adam didn't want to say it so he trailed off.
Charlie looked at the Ravenclaw and finished the sentence the way he honestly thought it should be, "Because I think you are trying to steal my girlfriend."
"I don't know what happens in your house..."
Charlie cut Adam off and said, "You're half right. I am afraid that Rebecca and I are growing apart, but you are too much of a stand up guy to try to steal her. Though I wouldn't doubt that if the two of us broke up you might consider dating her."
"Actually, I have a girl."
Charlie looked at him stunned. "Who?"
Adam laughed a little and said, "Her name is Kalie and she goes to Beauxbatons."
"So Rebecca knows her then?" Charlie stated looking as though the light bulb just went on in his head. 'Man, I was really off on this situation. Why did I let Malfoy's words get to me so upset?'
"Yeah, they were in different houses, but had a lot of classes and got along really well. Every time a ball would come around Kalie would tell me about this girl that could really dance and that she actually got her to give her and some others lessons. Well, Kalie never said the name so I didn't know that Rebecca was the girl until I got a letter from Kalie saying that their last ball was not as much fun because Rebecca wasn't there to teach the guys to dance. I guess she could get anyone to dance. Anyways, Kalie and I don't get to see each other during the school year, so this summer I wanted to take her out dancing."
"Oh, you want Rebecca to teach you, then?" Charlie was a bit more light- hearted than he was after hearing this.
"Well yeah, but I would be a cad if I just walked up out of the blue and said, 'I date Kalie, please, teach me to dance.' So I set out to become an acquaintance and get to know her better before I did. She's a great girl and she's head over heels for you, but I don't want my pursuing a friendship to get in the way of you two. You're a great couple, probably the best in this school. So, I will stop talking to Rebecca, if you think that it would help stop the rows."
"Mate, it wouldn't help. I have been the one that was being the fool. My paranoia should not get in the way of you two being friends. I am sure you already told Becca everything about Kalie that you just told me."
Adam nodded.
"Well now that we are all on the same page, maybe I can stop instigating rows."
"What?"
"You've noticed how tired Rebecca is right?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I keep pushing for answers to things that I shouldn't really care about. I have been smothering her."
"You haven't smothered her."
"Maybe not completely, but she has enough to stress her out without me asking questions. If I would just let her come to me with things then she would have had at least one angle to breathe at."
"You're probably right. ... Is she actually going to play the last match or with Cathrine up is Rebecca going to get more free time?"
"Unfortunately, Cathrine is going to be released early enough to start practicing again for the match. Wood went in and talked to her and she insisted that even if she could get up to speed again she wanted Becca to play at that match. So Becca still has that practice, along with O.W.L.s, homework, and all the stuff she has to do with the will."
"At least she got that puzzle done."
"Yeah, and I think she told Sara that she managed to get a proper potion brewed last time so she only has to do that two more times." Charlie stood there for a moment and then said, "Thanks."
"For what? Telling you about Kalie? I should have done that a while a go when I started noticing..."
"No. Well that and also you helped me get a clearer picture of what Becca is facing right now. I have to go find her."
Charlie walked away in the direction that Rebecca had taken. He tried in the common room first since there wasn't to many other places she could have gone.
As soon as he, walked in the room he found Rebecca. She was sitting on the window ledge with her chin resting on her knees and her arms wrapped around her legs.
Charlie slowly approached her. He couldn't help but notice the tears rolling down her face as she turned to see him coming towards her.
Charlie wrapped his arms around her and gave her a big hug.
"I'm sorry," Charlie whispered. "I don't think I realize how much stress everything is on you. You keep going and going and going. I forgot that you need some times to reenergize by being by yourself."
"Yeah, I am not the Energizer Bunny©, am I?" Rebecca responded with a little laugh. She felt better with Charlie's apology.
Charlie chuckled and then said, "No you're not. I'm also sorry about all the questionings that I put you through lately. I didn't think about what I was doing. I just wanted to know what was going on with you and I wasn't patient enough for you to come to me like you always do."
Rebecca rested her head on Charlie's shoulder and whispered back, "Well, maybe if I would have been less defensive and told you what was going on there wouldn't have been a problem."
"I think Greg said it best. 'Our dear friend is burning both ends of the candle and is barely able to keep herself in the loop much less get you up to speed with what is going on.'"
Rebecca laughed, "Isn't that the truth of it all."
"What do you have tonight?"
"Just studying, for once."
"H-how..." Charlie stopped and said, "Never mind."
"How do I have all of my homework done with all that I have been doing?" Rebecca quietly and sweetly asked sitting up alittle straight so she could look Charlie in the eye. "I have been an insomniac this past week. I couldn't stop my brain when I laid down so I have been staying up until I collapse working on my assignments."
"Oh, you poor thing, no wonder you have been looking so tired," whispered Charlie as he gave squeezed her a little. "Come on let's go and sit by the fire."
Rebecca nodded and was about to hop off the ledge when Charlie just scooped her up.
"Sorry, but I haven't had the chance to do this in a while. You're doing to good of a job dodging Flint."
Rebecca laughed as Charlie sat her on the couch. Charlie sat down beside her and wrapped his arms back around her as she leaned into him.
Rebecca started telling that she had a close run in with Russel in the Slytherin's common room. She couldn't help herself she ended up telling Charlie all about the ink tampering and that the paper Lauren gave her was written with it. Charlie listening and asked a few questions but for the most part Rebecca didn't leave anything out so he had nothing to ask.
They sat there cuddling and talking for an hour. Charlie got caught up on Rebecca's life and she drifted off to sleep. As Rebecca caught up on some sleep, Charlie sat there cherishing having Rebecca napping in his arms.
Greg and Sara walked in and saw the two.
"Hey, did you patch things up?" Greg asked as he walked past.
"Yeah, she told me what all was going on with her on her own like everyone said she would," Charlie whispered and the added, "I apologized for being crazy."
"Good," Sara commented as she walked past.
"Thanks you, two."
Sara looked at him strangely and asked, "For what?"
"For being good friends."
Greg grinned and said, "We're just glad things are getting back to normal."
And things were back to normal for the next week. Rebecca caught up on sleep and even though she was still tired she could handle things a lot better. Charlie had told her while they had sat by the fire about what Malfoy had said which ticked her off a little, but she decided to wait to retaliate for the comment for the match, which was just around the corner after all.
"Hey Rebecca! You ready for the match," Ryan said as Rebecca walked past on her way to breakfast.
"Um, Yeah, I think so," Rebecca responded with a warm smile stopping in front of the door to talk some more with her child hood friend.
"Nervous?"
"Of course, it is my first match." Rebecca was half laughing at the obvious answer, but Ryan could tell that she was trying hard to cover her nervousness.
Ryan decided he better act like a real friend and so in a soothing voice he said, "Don't worry we'll take it easy on you."
"Why?" Rebecca questioned looking at her friend curiously. "Were you holding back at the scrimmage?"
"No," Ryan slowly said going slightly pink because he knew that the Gryffindors hadn't used any moves that really told how good Rebecca was at the scrimmage and they still lost. "More because I have noticed that you have been stressed out lately and things don't seem to be going to well with Weasley, so I figured I would let you know that you don't have to worry about bludgers flying at your head. You know one less thing that you have to worry about."
"Well that is a good thing," Rebecca said with a smirk that made Ryan wonder what was going on in her head.
"What's a good thing?" Charlie asked as he walked up to the two.
As Charlie tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, Rebecca sweetly replied, "Ryan just assured me that I wouldn't have any bludgers flying to knock my head off during the match on Saturday."
"Oh, that is a good thing, because I like your head right where it is." Charlie then kissed Rebecca's temple and took her bag off her shoulder as he said, "I'll see you inside."
"Okay," Rebecca said with a smile.
As Charlie walked into the Great Hall, Rebecca turned back to Ryan who was dumbstruck at what he just saw.
"Things have been going a lot better between us," Rebecca explained in a smug sort of way because Ryan had stuck his foot in his mouth when he had responded to her why question.
"What are you still doing with that... that...that."
"That what?" Rebecca sternly asked him.
"That loser," Ryan hissed back at her.
They both shot daggers at each other. Rebecca looked as though she was about to say something, but instead turned and walked away into the Great Hall.
She wasn't about to start to get into a row with him. She had enough of it the week prior.
As she walked away, Ryan, who didn't care if his opinion started a row, yelled at her, "He's changed you. Before Charlie you never walked away from me."
Rebecca turned around and retorted, "Before Charlie, you never noticed me walking away."
"What is that suppose to mean?" Ryan hissed back walking towards her.
"It means that before I was dating Charlie you didn't care if I walked away from you. You're jealous or something for some reason."
"I am not jealous."
"Fine, dear cousin," Rebecca sarcastically said. "You're not jealous; you just don't like the idea that when I walk away from you I still have some one to talk to."
"I don't care if you that you have other friends to talk with that guy isn't good for you. You need to find some one else."
"OH, so is that why you stated to Russel that I was looking for someone new."
"How did you..."
"Listen Ryan I don't care if you think that Charlie and I don't make a good couple, because that is your opinion on a situation that you don't know everything on, but if you ever insinuate that I am cheating on my boyfriend, and mind you it doesn't even have to be Charlie, don't ever expect me to talk to you again."
"What?" Ryan took a step back and looked at her scared, because he knew that it wasn't an idle threat.
"You heard me. You have known me forever and know that I am not that type of person, so if you ever have the audacity to defame my personality by saying that I am looking for someone new while I am still dating someone, don't think that I am going to put up with it."
Rebecca turned and walked away while Ryan tried to grab her arm and make her stay. She was too quick and left without knowing that Ryan had more to say.
As Ryan watched Rebecca walk towards the Gryffindor table Russel walked up behind him.
"What's going on?" Russel asked when he realized that Ryan was staring darkly at the fifth year Gryffindors.
"Did you talk to Rebecca after I said she found out Weasley was a loser?"
"Ha," Russel forced a laugh, "like your cousin would talk to me on pleasant terms. Why?"
"Because she knew that I said she was looking for someone knew."
"How did she know that?"
"Don't know, but she wasn't overly happy about it."
"Well what did you expect you insulted the guy she is dating and she is the type that even if she is mad at him no one else can say something bad about him."
"No, that wasn't it, this time."
"What was it?"
"She said I insulted her personally."
"How?"
"Well the two are still dating and so saying..."
"She thinks that you think that she cheated on that loser," Russel said and then looked at Rebecca, who had this sad little expression on her face that was slowly being erased by her friends sitting with her.
"Yeah," Ryan let out an exasperated sigh.
"Serves you right for getting in trouble for that one," Russel muttered as he continued to stare at Rebecca who was now laughing right along with the rest of her group.
"WHAT?!" Ryan exclaimed shocking Russel and Cassie who had just came through the door with Dan, Hans, Sam, and Kirsta.
Russel was about to explain his comment when Cassie demanded, "What's going on?"
"Ryan got Rebecca mad at him for insinuating that she would cheat on someone."
Cassie gave Ryan a harsh look while Kirsta asked, "How did that come up?"
"When Rebecca and Weasley were in a row Ryan commented to me..."
"Well you don't need to be around her if she is a cheater and Charlie dumped her for it."
Russel took a deep breathe and tired to exhale slowly while counting to ten, but it didn't help.
He found himself shouting at Kirsta, "I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET THIS THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULL BUT WE AREN'T DATING AND NEVER WILL. SO DON'T GIVE ME THAT I SHOULDN'T BE AROUND CERTAIN PEOPLE." He then turned to Cassie and in a lower more threatening tone he told her, "And before you go all dramatic, if you even dare try to push me to take her to another ball or anything else I will give you something to be dramatic about."
Russel stormed off and took a seat between Harvey and Marcus so he didn't have to talk to them when they finally sat down.
"Well I never," Kirsta said as she watched Russel get a piece of parchment and some ink from his brother.
"Well it's not like he's your first choice either," Ryan blurted out. Cassie glared at him. "Oh give me a break, if Kirsta had her way, she would be with Dark. She wouldn't care who Russel was with then. And besides, she shouldn't have called Rebecca a cheater, because she's not. I said that she was looking for someone knew thinking that she had broken up with Weasley."
"There still together?" squealed Cassie. Ryan was taken back by his girlfriend's sudden change in moods.
"Yeah," he slowly answered as he looked at her curiously.
"That's great I was so afraid that they might break up will all those little fights they were having."
Cassie took him by the arm and led him to the table followed by Hans, Sam, and Dan as Ryan looked back at the brooding Kirsta.
Slowly Kirsta walked over to the table and took a seat next to Ryan.
"You okay?" Ryan whispered to her.
"Yeah," she soberly said. "You know he's right. If I was with A.J, I wouldn't care who he was with or liked to be with." Ryan didn't know what to say. "I have to tell him how I really feel now." IT was obvious to Ryan that Kirsta was talking about A.J. with that comment.
"Good luck with that." Kirsta could tell Ryan was being sarcastic so she gave him a questioning look causing Ryan to say, "With the match almost neigh the rivalries between the two houses are going to only heighten even more and getting around the Gryffindor team members is going to be near impossible. Sorry to burst your bubble, but I don't think that you will be able to talk to him this week."
"Oh, I will just watch me." Kirsta turned back to stare at the back of A.J. more determined than ever to tell her true feeling to A.J.
Kirsta looked for any reason to run into A.J. over the next week, but had no success.
Even when she had classes with the boy, she couldn't get more than two syllables out before either he moved away from her or one of his fellow housemates called him over to them.
In a final act of desperation, she even tried fainting in front of him. A.J. just walked past her allowing her to fall her to the ground hard. No one is quite sure how she managed it, but Kirsta knocked herself out and had to be taken to the infirmary.
Of course, she wasn't the only Slytherin trying to talk to a Gryffindor and failing miserable. Harvey tried to talk to Lauren on several occasions. Finally on the Friday before the meet he cornered her right before lunch.
"Why didn't you respond to my letter?" he asked as he forced her in a corner.
"What letter?" Lauren asked trying to get past him.
"The letter I sent you last Monday."
"I didn't get a letter from anyone. In fact all I got was a piece of paper with a bunch of smiley faces."
"What?" Harvey went white.
"You heard me. It was a bunch of smiley faces. If you don't believe me ask Rebecca I showed it to her. She about died laughing."
"I don't believe you," Harvey hissed.
Lauren stared into the Slytherin's eyes boldly almost daring him to call her a liar. Harvey turned around and saw Rebecca walking past with Charlie.
"Hey Carter," he called out.
Rebecca turned to see Harvey beckoning to her and was about to continue walking until she saw Lauren back into corner. She grabbed Charlie by the arm and led him over to the first years.
"What do you want?" Rebecca asked as she approached Harvey.
Lauren rushed over to Charlie's side as Rebecca took a step away from the two.
"Did Lauren so you a piece of paper with smiley faces all over it?" Harvey asked still as pale as he was when Lauren had told him about it.
Rebecca looked at him and then at Lauren with a confused face.
As she looked back at Harvey she said, "Yeah, why?"
"What?" Harvey started to panic. Rebecca looked at him slightly amused.
"What's going on here?" Russel asked as he approached the group. He had been walking by and was curious why Harvey was talking to Rebecca. Half of him hoped that his question would lead to a conversation with Rebecca even if it was monitored by Charlie.
Rebecca turned to Russel and said, "Your housemate thinks I am a liar."
"I did not!"
Rebecca snickered a little and then said, "But you questioned me when I told you that I did see the piece of paper full of smiley faces."
"Smiley faces?" Russel asked as his face went as white as Harvey's. "I thought we got rid of all of those," he hissed at the first year.
"It was before we got in trouble," Harvey responded.
"You got in trouble?" Rebecca asked struggling to hide her giddiness.
Russel stared at her wondering why she was so interested in them getting in trouble as he explained that the teachers noticed that homework from the Slytherins were all smiley faces and that Snape had noticed when he came into speak to them about it that several first years were flipping through notebooks and several of the pages had smiley faces on it. "We don't know what happened to all of our ink, but we found out that if you hold the paper over a flame that it turns back."
"How did you find that out?"
Russel started to get suspicious of Rebecca's questions but the idea of her actually civilly talking to him and keeping the conversation going herself caused him to over look it.
"Oh, Alannah threw some papers in the fire and when I walked by I noticed that the faces were changing back to words."
"Oh," Rebecca said in a very enlightened way while Charlie smirked, because he knew what she and her other cohorts had done.
"Yeah, well we still got rid of our ink and bought new bottles for everyone last weekend, because it took forever for the ink to change to smiley faces if it was and then changing it back took a while too. The costs of the time and the stress was greater than us just buying new. You know opportunity costs type stuff."
"Uh-huh," Rebecca agreed.
"I did keep a bottle though," Russel sly said.
"Why?" Rebecca looked at him shocked.
"Well you never know when it might come in handy." Russel had an all knowing smile that was a bit on the creepy side.
Charlie had about as much as he could take.
He gentle grabbed Rebecca's hand and said, "We need to get to Lauren to lunch."
Rebecca nodded and was about to leave with him when Russel grabbed her other arm preventing her from leaving.
"What's the matter Weasley? Can't take the little first year into the Great Hall by yourself?" Russel asked trying to push Charlie's buttons.
Charlie glared at the Slytherin and responded, "No, I don't want Rebecca talking to you by herself in case you decide to hex her."
Russel's jaw dropped for a moment and then regained his composure in an instant to say, "Now why would I hex her when I am going to get to go on a date with her."
"Ha," Rebecca responded before Charlie could say anything. As she twisted out of Russel's grip, Rebecca continued, "Like that is going to happen since Charlie is going to get the snitch first."
"That's what you think."
"Charlie has beaten you in years past and he beat you at the scrimmage."
"Barely," Russel said through gritted teeth.
"Still beat you," Rebecca retorted as she walked off with Charlie.
As the three Gryffindors made there way to table, Rebecca noticed that Charlie looked slightly nervous.
"You okay?" she whispered to him when they were taking their seats.
"Um, yeah." lied Charlie.
"Liar."
Charlie looked at her for a moment and finally decided to cave and tell Rebecca that Russel was right when he said barely. "If he sees the snitch before me, I might not be able to get it. He has gotten better since last year. I... I... I might lo..."
"No you're not," Rebecca stopped him. "You still have more talent than Flint. He just has a faster broom to try to make up for the talent that he lacks."
"I don't have the money to get a new broom," Charlie informed her.
"Who said anything about buying? I was thinking about trading."
Charlie gave her a curious look and then quietly asked, "What's your plan?"
"We trade brooms." Charlie gave her a more confused look so she quickly explained, "I know that it sounds funny, but if we trade you will have the fast broom on the field."
"Yeah, but..."
"But what? Your broom is a closer make to Greg's and Anna's so I won't have to hold back so much?"
"You have been holding back?"
"Well... Yeah, I can't just fly as fast as I possible could since they weren't able to keep up with me. Your broom will let me get in sync with them without really thinking about it, which will be good for my nerves. ... Come on. We can try it out at that mini practice Wood called for tonight and if you don't like it we don't have to do it at the match."
Charlie sat there for a moment and finally whispered to her, "I know I figured out why you are in Gryffindor a while ago, but I think I just figure out why it took so long for the sorting hat to announce it." Rebecca gave him a confused look wondering where he was going with the next line. "Ravenclaw was up for the running too." Rebecca blushed slightly as Charlie continued, "I think it is a brilliant plan. I just have on thing to add to it. I think though that we shouldn't switch until right before we go into the air of the opening toss. It might throw the Slytherins off mentally."
Charlie turned his head and smiled at her.
Rebecca smiled back and put her head on his shoulders while she thought, 'Good now hopefully we can pull this off and I get to go scotch free with my ring from the bet.'
After lunch, Rebecca needed to run upstairs to grab a book she had forgotten in the dorm. On her way to Defense class she had a run in with Ryan.
Probably if the two hadn't been mad at each other from their row earlier in the week there wouldn't have been an incident come from the situation, but that was not the case. Ryan was in a foul mood so he instantly picked a fight with Rebecca by saying that if she wasn't a cheater now she would be when she had her date with Russel and then started to walk off without letting her get a word out.
To say Rebecca was livid would be an understatement. She stormed off to class barely able to restrain herself from chasing after him and just decking her childhood best friend.
At the mini practice, Rebecca found herself taking out her aggression by trying to beat Aaron around the hoops when she was in the position to score. While in the locker room at the end of practice Wood congratulated her not only for taking the practice serious unlike most of the member, but also for her excellent broom switching plan.
"I think that it will throw Flint for a loop that he won't know how to recover from," Aaron said as the team changed out of their practice robes. "Now I want everyone to have a good night sleep. None of this staying up late crap that you all like to do on the weekend. I want to see you all down at breakfast. We will need our energy for the match!"
Rebecca smiled as she put her stuff back in her locker and walked out with Charlie and the rest of the team.
They all went and sat in the common room with the rest of their friends. Many students walked up and wished them good luck as they all enjoyed each others company.
Finally under the watchful eye of their captain the headed up to bed. Rebecca laid down in her bed and instantly felt herself drifted off to sleep. Even though she was having no problems getting to sleep, she knew that her nerves wouldn't allow her to stay sleeping for too long.
"Hey sleepy, you going to class?" Sara asked as Rebecca slipped out of her bed.
"Yeah," Rebecca yawned as walked to her closet to throw fresh clothes on.
"How did your meeting go last night?" Sara asked as she gathered up her books for the day.
"My head was spinning after I got done with all my notes on the potion," Rebecca started and then told her about cutting the wolfsbane. As Rebecca finished brushing her hair, she said, "And I have another meeting tonight at eight where I am actually brew the potion."
"Really?"
"Yeah," Rebecca apprehensively responded.
"Nervous?"
"Extremely."
"Well if you need to talk about it you know you can."
"Yeah, thank you."
Sara knew that if Rebecca had not been getting ready for classes she would have said more, but she need to get ready for classes.
"Well, I am going to go down to breakfast. I'll see you there."
"Yeah I'll be down after I get my bag packed." Rebecca went to get her bag ready for the day and realized that it wasn't in its usual place.
'Oh, where is it?' Rebecca thought as she frantically hunted for it.
After a few moments she decided that she couldn't have brought it up with her last night, so she rushed down to the common room to see if it was down there. Charlie was down stairs waiting for her, when Rebecca rushed down the steps and start looking for her bag.
"What ya looking for?" Charlie asked as he watched his girlfriend become more and more concerned.
"My book bag," Rebecca responded in a wavering voice as she thought, 'Did I take that down to the Slytherin's house? No I couldn't have, but if I didn't where is it.'
"Oh, well last time I saw it you had it on your shoulder heading out to that meeting with Snape."
Rebecca stopped for a moment. It all made sense. She didn't bring it back from there.
Rebecca turned quickly and practically ran out of the room as Charlie said, "Speaking of that meeting how did it go?"
She was already out the door.
"I stayed up to ask you that," Charlie muttered and then gave out a sigh as he watched the door shut behind her.
He picked up his bag and headed to breakfast slightly depressed about the events of the prior night and the new morning.
As Charlie took a seat next to Greg, James asked, "Why so glum, chum?"
Greg turned to see that his best mate wearing a very sober expression and instantly asked, "What's the matter?"
Charlie took a deep breathe and slowly let it out before he started, "Rebecca is... She is... I mean, she has got a lot to do and..."
Sara couldn't stand Charlie having such a hard time figuring out what he wanted to say that she tried to say it for him, "Since she was in the Slytherin room, there's something different about her."
"Exactly, I can't tell what she is up to and she won't tell me."
"It's like you two aren't connecting then?" Jacquelyn asked.
"Um, ... YEAH. That's exactly it." Charlie placed his hand ruffly on the table.
Greg and James looked at each other and rolled their eyes. They really didn't want to be listening to that conversation that early in the morning.
"Mate," Greg interjected. "You're forgetting that after she got out of the infirmary she was told of her potion tasks. It's a difficult potion. Rebecca even said so herself. She knows that she has to do it to Snape's standards, which is higher for her than anyone else in our year and maybe even the whole school so that she can stay here. How would you feel about that challenge? I say I would be stressed out. Add in her learning quidditch, studying for O.W.L.s, and homework. I say our dear friend is burning both ends of the candle and is barely able to keep herself in the loop much less get you up to speed with what is going on."
"But..."
"But what? You're the guy that always said that you didn't have time for a girlfriend because you were too busy. Well congratulations buddy, you found a girl that doesn't mind, because she is busy herself. Enjoy it. You know once things settle down Rebecca will be right back beside you and let you know everything that went on. She doesn't hold things back from you once she starts tell you things. You know that."
Charlie looked at James who could only say, "You know he's right. Just be patient. You'll see."
Charlie sighed and looked at the two girls of the group who had suddenly become fascinated with their breakfast. Obviously, they didn't want to be questioned on what they thought if Charlie didn't like what Greg had said.
Charlie let out another deep breathe and said, "You're right. ... Please just keep reminding me of that."
"We will," James and Greg responded together as they watched Charlie start to filling plate.
Anna and Colin came to the table right after the Charlie started eating. They both look tired as they took their seats, Anna beside A.J. and Colin next to her.
"You two didn't sleep well did you?" A.J asked as Anna yawned.
"Just a restless night," Anna fibbed and Colin shook his head to say that they same went for him.
Charlie looked down the table that the two and noticed Rebecca with her bag walking into the Great Hall. She looked exhausted more so than Anna and Colin who were still yawning, but she had this sweet little smile on her face.
Charlie started to grin at the sight until Rebecca turned around and stood there as Adam Harker walked in the door.
He had been holding for Rebecca to walk in and once he entered the two stood and talked for a moment and then walked to their respective tables. Charlie was dumbstruck not by the fact that Rebecca had been talking to someone when she came in, but by who she was talking to. Like Rebecca, Charlie had only on occasion heard Harker talk and so Charlie pegged him as the strong silent type, but from what Charlie could see Rebecca and the Ravenclaw were having a good conversation and Harker was talking just as much as Rebecca was if not more.
Rebecca walked down the table and sat next to Charlie who still had a puzzled look on his face.
"What's the matter?" she asked stuffing her bag under the table and starting to fill her plate.
"When did you start talking with Harker?"
"We ran into each other in the hall," Rebecca said and then in a laugh, "literally."
Rebecca started giggling from the memory. Colin and Anna perked up a little to see if they could catch a hidden meaning in Rebecca's next sentence.
"It was the funniest thing ever," Rebecca continued through her laughter. "I was rushing down to the potion room to get my bag; because I accidentally left it there and I was rounding the corner to get to the stairs Adam was right there. We both hit the floor."
Rebecca laughed harder recalling the events. Colin and Anna were tired enough that they started laughing too; leaving everyone else wondering what is so funny.
"Guess you have to be tired to laugh at it," Jacquelyn whispered to Sara.
Charlie however looked at his girlfriend with a questioning eye and couldn't help but ask, "You met up with him before you made it to the potion room?"
Rebecca instantly stopped laughing and slowly said, "Yeah, why?"
"So he went down to the room with you?"
Charlie was getting a little more intense so Greg faked a cough that sound a lot like "Stress."
"Yeah." Rebecca looked at Charlie not sure what was going through his head.
"Why?"
"Why?" Rebecca gave Charlie an even more confused look.
"Yeah, I want to know why?"
"Because we were talking and I need to get down there and then up here," Rebecca defensively said. "Instead of stopping the conversation he walked with me."
As Charlie and Rebecca silently stared at each other, their friends exchanged looks wondering what was going to happen.
"What were you talking about?" Charlie finally asked after a few minutes.
Rebecca eye about popped out of her head. She couldn't believe he had the nerve to ask that this time for she had talked to plenty of guys that he could have done it before and hadn't.
"Not that it really is any of your business," Rebecca harshly responded. "But we got on the subject of vampires and he was telling me what he knew about vampires' phobia of garlic. It took him a while because I kept asking questions. ... Now excuse me but I promised to see Cathrine this morning, or do you have a problem with that?"
Rebecca didn't wait for an answer. She got up, grabbed her bag, and left the room.
"What is the matter with you?" Greg asked turning towards Charlie. "Mate, she looks dead on her feet and we have practice tonight..."
"And she told us this morning that she had another meeting for her potion challenge tonight at eight," added Sara.
"See she is stressed out and you jumping down her throat because she was talking to a guy, especially a stand up one like Harker, didn't help anything. You know Becca didn't like what you were insinuating. ... She independent and that is what you like about her, right?"
"Yes," Charlie said putting his head in his hands. "I need to go talk to her."
Practically everyone lunged at Charlie to keep him sitting.
"Let Becca have her time. She needs to cool down or else she is going to get you like she got Ryan," Colin whispered to his friend.
Charlie looked at the prankster and mouthed, "Colors."
"Yeah and black eyes. So calm down."
Unfortunately, it was hard for Charlie to keep himself calm. Every time he turned around there was something that irked him with Rebecca's actions towards him.
They had walked up to lunch after Herbology, where they had barely said two words to each other. Lauren came rushing towards Rebecca and frantically thrust a paper into the fifth year's hand while saying that Harvey had given it to her.
Charlie was about to ask what was on the paper, when Rebecca broke out into laughter and rushed to show Colin the paper. It took Colin a moment and then he started to laugh as the two walked in to lunch together leaving Lauren and Charlie in the hall alone wondering what was so funny about the paper.
When the two came into entered into the Great Hall they didn't find Rebecca and Colin at sitting at their table, but standing between the Gryffindor table and the Ravenclaw laughing with Lennon, Jenna, Kurt, Kevin, Audrey, and Adam.
Charlie didn't think anything about this until when he tried to get Rebecca to tell what was so funny she didn't answer, just kept laughing. He tried relentlessly until Rebecca's laughter turned into anger and she was about exploded. Luckily, Charlie managed to stop himself.
When Rebecca got up to go to Defense class she about ran into Harker. The two laughed and started walking to class talking. Charlie got up from his seat and stayed several feet behind the two.
As he exited the room he heard the voice of Ryan say, "It looks like Rebecca might have finally figure out that Weasley is a loser. You might go up and talk to her, mate. She could be trying to find someone new."
"Looks to me like Harker is staking his claim," Russel gloomily responded knowing full well that if he hadn't have done anything to Rebecca he might have been the next in line for dating Rebecca.
Charlie hurried away, because he didn't want to hear about Russel lamenting the horrible stuff he had done to Rebecca.
The rest of the day Charlie stuck closer to Rebecca than he really had. He wasn't about to let any guy especially one like Russel think that Rebecca was looking for another guy while they were still going out. This didn't go over to well with Rebecca who was finding it hard to get everything done that she need to with Charlie constantly being at her elbow.
On Wednesday morning, she was about to explode from this when a brown barn owl dropped a package on her empty plate. Rebecca ripped off the wrapping, mostly because she was trying to take out some of her aggression. She took the top of the box off and looked in side. There were lots of white puzzle pieces and a letter.
"What's that?" Charlie asked curious of all the puzzle pieces.
Rebecca looked at him darkly as she picked up the letter and read it.
"What's going on?" Sara said as she took her seat at the table.
"The lawyer decided that I need something else to do," Rebecca crankily responded.
"What do you have to do?" Sara responded in an appalled tone.
"I have an all white puzzle that I have to put together without magic or anyone else's help." Rebecca let out a sigh.
"When do you have to have it done?"
"Next week. I guess I'll have to work on it this weekend."
"Morning, everyone," Greg said as he joined the group. "Did you guys see that it is a Hogsmeade weekend?"
"It is?" Sara asked excited.
"Yeah, so what are we going to do there this time?" Greg asked addressing the whole group.
When Greg looked at her, Rebecca said, "I won't be going so please don't ask me."
"Why not?"
"I want to catch up with some sleep and also I have this puzzle to work."
"That's cool. So Charlie what do you want to do?"
"I won't be going either," Charlie quietly responded.
"Why not?" Rebecca asked her blood almost boiling.
"I would rather just stay here with you."
"Well, I don't plan on leaving my dorm room so you won't be here with me so you might as well go and stay out of my hair." Rebecca slammed the box top back on and stormed off.
Charlie let out a sigh and shrugged to the rest of his friends. No one knew what to say to comfort him. They all just hoped that it would blow all over by then end of the week when Rebecca would be able to catch up on some sleep.
Everything did seem to be calming down between Rebecca and Charlie when Saturday rolled around. Charlie and Rebecca were able to get through short conversations without a row occurring, but much longer and one of the two if not both were upset.
On Saturday, Charlie reluctantly left for Hogsmeade with the rest of his group. The girls assured him that Rebecca was still asleep unaware that Rebecca hadn't really slept all night and was sitting in her bed with the curtains pulled working on the white puzzle.
About an hour after group left, Rebecca moved down to the Great Hall because she didn't have enough room on her puzzle. She set out the pieces that she had already gotten together and started working on some other.
It wasn't long before a deep voice said, "That has got to be tough."
Rebecca looked up to see Harker standing on the other side of the table looking at the all white puzzle.
"Oh, it is," Rebecca laughed as she somehow magically (figuratively not literally) found two more edge pieces that fit together.
"Need help?"
"I can't have any, but thanks for the offer." Rebecca got another set of piece that fit. "You can sit and talk with me. I am having better luck talking with you."
"Sure, why not? It beats studying for O.W.L.s," Adam said as he took as seat. "So why can't you have help with this?"
"Um, I got it from the lawyer's and I was told I couldn't have any," Rebecca started and saw that Adam was confused by what she said so she elaborated explaining a little about the lawyer and the will with stipulations as she got a few more pieces of the puzzle together.
"Oh," Adam said at the end. "So is that the reason you came here from Beauxbatons?"
"Yep."
"So do you keep in touch with anyone from there?"
"Um, yeah, my friend Stacy writes me, but I haven't heard from her in a while, but I think that she's studying for O.W.L.s. Of course, I haven't had time to write her either so it isn't like I can be too upset about it."
"That's cool that you're pen pals now."
"Yeah, Have you ever had a pen pal?"
"Yeah, actually I still have one."
"Really where are they from?"
"Actually she is from Beauxbatons. I think she knew while you were there. She is about 5' 10" with blonde hair and green eyes."
"Kalie?" Rebecca started to smile and the two started talking about Kalie and how Adam knew her.
"We're actually neighbors, but we didn't get along to well so both of us were glad when we went to separate schools. I think it was third year and there was an opportunity to get a pen pal from another school."
"Oh, yeah, I remember that. I think I had someone from Durmstang."
"Yeah, there was several school involved. Well Kalie and I ended up getting each others letter and we didn't use each others name in the letters for a long time. And then that summer I figured out that it was her."
"Oh so it was like a 'Shop around the Corner' situation."
"Yeah," Adam said as Rebecca continued to put her pieces in place. The two continued talking into the afternoon.
Charlie walked into the Great Hall thinking that he had imagined hearing Rebecca's laughter and just wanted to assure himself that it wasn't. He saw Rebecca working on her puzzle smiling at Adam who was of course smiling back. The words that Ryan and Russel had said came straight to his mind. Adam got up unaware that Charlie had come into the room until he was walking away.
"Weasley," Adam said when he passed the Gryffindor.
"Harker," Charlie coolly responded as he walked towards Rebecca.
"Hey! How was Hogsmeade?" Rebecca happily responded as she saw Charlie coming towards her. She had only need to put in a few more pieces of the puzzle and was feeling really good about everything. Rebecca was also excited to tell Charlie about Kalie and Adam. The look on Charlie's face wiped the smile off of Rebecca's face.
"What's the matter?" she whispered concerned about Charlie as he took a seat in front of her. "Did something happen at Hogsmeade?"
"No," Charlie darkly responded. "I thought you weren't going to leave your dorm room today?"
"There wasn't enough room so I moved down here."
Rebecca put the last piece into place and smiled up at him as all the lines in the puzzle disappeared, but she instantly stopped smiling when she noticed Charlie still wore a scowl on his face.
They sat there in silence for a moment and the Charlie in a defensive tone asked, "Why could Adam sit here while you did the puzzle but I had to be sent to Hogsmeade?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean why couldn't I hang out with you while you did this?"
"Maybe because you have been at my elbow all week and I am starting to find it distracting."
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"It means that right at the moment I am thankful when I don't have to reason with you so that I can off by myself."
Charlie was about to say something he would probably regret, when Greg walked in with Sara.
"Hey, you two!" Greg cheerful said.
Sensing that the couple was in another row, Sara looked for something that would distract the two from what they were fighting about.
"Rebecca you got the puzzle down!" squealed Sara happy for her friend to have the difficult puzzle done.
"Yeah, at least that is one thing down," Rebecca responded getting up from the table and walking out with the white board that was her puzzle.
Charlie was about to get up and follow her, when Greg put his hand on his friend's should and looked at Sara who instantly turned and left the room.
"Okay Sara is going to calm Becca down and I am going to get you calmed down," Greg started as Charlie brooded slightly. He then went into another speech about Rebecca being stressed out and everything else he had been saying for the past week.
After about a half an hour Sara came back and nodded to signal that she had calmed down Rebecca at Greg who nodded back to let her know that he had done the same with Charlie.
Sara and Greg thought that they had the two calmed down enough that they would be okay for the rest of the weekend, so they allowed Rebecca and Charlie to be around each other without one of them around. Unfortunately they were wrong.
Rebecca walked out of the Great Hall after breakfast on Sunday planning to go to the library by herself, but Charlie was most insistent that he go with her.
"Charlie you don't need to go," Rebecca said for about the third time.
"But I want to go," Charlie insisted.
"Well I don't want you to go," Rebecca hissed exasperated.
"Why not?"
"I just need some time by myself."
"Are you sure you don't want to just spend time with your new boyfriend?"
Rebecca's jaw dropped and she could feel the tears getting ready to start, "You think I am cheating on you?!"
"Well, it isn't like we are spending any time together and you're always around Harker."
"Charlie, you have been following me around all week. I can barely get away from you. I am not cheating on you so please, give me a break. ... I feel like I am getting smothered here," Rebecca said tears welling up in her eyes.
Charlie's jaw dropped this time. He had nothing to respond to that comment.
Rebecca looked at him in the eyes and then walked up the steps as Charlie sat down on the steps knowing that she was technically right. He was sort of smothering her.
Charlie sat there for a moment wondering why he was being so smothering to Rebecca. He had never had a problem giving her space before.
'She always came back when she walked away,' Charlie thought. 'I need to get a grip. Rebecca is too straight forward and a caring person that isn't going to hurt me on purpose."
"Weasley, can I talk to you?" a deep voice said breaking Charlie's train of thought.
The Gryffindor looked up to see Harker standing there.
Charlie nodded and Adam continued, "I don't know what exactly is going on with you and Rebecca, but I have noticed that if you see me talking to her, a row usually ensues. Grant it compared to the dramatics of Slytherin's Burk, it isn't noticeable to anyone but the people around you. I just wanted to let you know that if those rows happen because..." Adam didn't want to say it so he trailed off.
Charlie looked at the Ravenclaw and finished the sentence the way he honestly thought it should be, "Because I think you are trying to steal my girlfriend."
"I don't know what happens in your house..."
Charlie cut Adam off and said, "You're half right. I am afraid that Rebecca and I are growing apart, but you are too much of a stand up guy to try to steal her. Though I wouldn't doubt that if the two of us broke up you might consider dating her."
"Actually, I have a girl."
Charlie looked at him stunned. "Who?"
Adam laughed a little and said, "Her name is Kalie and she goes to Beauxbatons."
"So Rebecca knows her then?" Charlie stated looking as though the light bulb just went on in his head. 'Man, I was really off on this situation. Why did I let Malfoy's words get to me so upset?'
"Yeah, they were in different houses, but had a lot of classes and got along really well. Every time a ball would come around Kalie would tell me about this girl that could really dance and that she actually got her to give her and some others lessons. Well, Kalie never said the name so I didn't know that Rebecca was the girl until I got a letter from Kalie saying that their last ball was not as much fun because Rebecca wasn't there to teach the guys to dance. I guess she could get anyone to dance. Anyways, Kalie and I don't get to see each other during the school year, so this summer I wanted to take her out dancing."
"Oh, you want Rebecca to teach you, then?" Charlie was a bit more light- hearted than he was after hearing this.
"Well yeah, but I would be a cad if I just walked up out of the blue and said, 'I date Kalie, please, teach me to dance.' So I set out to become an acquaintance and get to know her better before I did. She's a great girl and she's head over heels for you, but I don't want my pursuing a friendship to get in the way of you two. You're a great couple, probably the best in this school. So, I will stop talking to Rebecca, if you think that it would help stop the rows."
"Mate, it wouldn't help. I have been the one that was being the fool. My paranoia should not get in the way of you two being friends. I am sure you already told Becca everything about Kalie that you just told me."
Adam nodded.
"Well now that we are all on the same page, maybe I can stop instigating rows."
"What?"
"You've noticed how tired Rebecca is right?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I keep pushing for answers to things that I shouldn't really care about. I have been smothering her."
"You haven't smothered her."
"Maybe not completely, but she has enough to stress her out without me asking questions. If I would just let her come to me with things then she would have had at least one angle to breathe at."
"You're probably right. ... Is she actually going to play the last match or with Cathrine up is Rebecca going to get more free time?"
"Unfortunately, Cathrine is going to be released early enough to start practicing again for the match. Wood went in and talked to her and she insisted that even if she could get up to speed again she wanted Becca to play at that match. So Becca still has that practice, along with O.W.L.s, homework, and all the stuff she has to do with the will."
"At least she got that puzzle done."
"Yeah, and I think she told Sara that she managed to get a proper potion brewed last time so she only has to do that two more times." Charlie stood there for a moment and then said, "Thanks."
"For what? Telling you about Kalie? I should have done that a while a go when I started noticing..."
"No. Well that and also you helped me get a clearer picture of what Becca is facing right now. I have to go find her."
Charlie walked away in the direction that Rebecca had taken. He tried in the common room first since there wasn't to many other places she could have gone.
As soon as he, walked in the room he found Rebecca. She was sitting on the window ledge with her chin resting on her knees and her arms wrapped around her legs.
Charlie slowly approached her. He couldn't help but notice the tears rolling down her face as she turned to see him coming towards her.
Charlie wrapped his arms around her and gave her a big hug.
"I'm sorry," Charlie whispered. "I don't think I realize how much stress everything is on you. You keep going and going and going. I forgot that you need some times to reenergize by being by yourself."
"Yeah, I am not the Energizer Bunny©, am I?" Rebecca responded with a little laugh. She felt better with Charlie's apology.
Charlie chuckled and then said, "No you're not. I'm also sorry about all the questionings that I put you through lately. I didn't think about what I was doing. I just wanted to know what was going on with you and I wasn't patient enough for you to come to me like you always do."
Rebecca rested her head on Charlie's shoulder and whispered back, "Well, maybe if I would have been less defensive and told you what was going on there wouldn't have been a problem."
"I think Greg said it best. 'Our dear friend is burning both ends of the candle and is barely able to keep herself in the loop much less get you up to speed with what is going on.'"
Rebecca laughed, "Isn't that the truth of it all."
"What do you have tonight?"
"Just studying, for once."
"H-how..." Charlie stopped and said, "Never mind."
"How do I have all of my homework done with all that I have been doing?" Rebecca quietly and sweetly asked sitting up alittle straight so she could look Charlie in the eye. "I have been an insomniac this past week. I couldn't stop my brain when I laid down so I have been staying up until I collapse working on my assignments."
"Oh, you poor thing, no wonder you have been looking so tired," whispered Charlie as he gave squeezed her a little. "Come on let's go and sit by the fire."
Rebecca nodded and was about to hop off the ledge when Charlie just scooped her up.
"Sorry, but I haven't had the chance to do this in a while. You're doing to good of a job dodging Flint."
Rebecca laughed as Charlie sat her on the couch. Charlie sat down beside her and wrapped his arms back around her as she leaned into him.
Rebecca started telling that she had a close run in with Russel in the Slytherin's common room. She couldn't help herself she ended up telling Charlie all about the ink tampering and that the paper Lauren gave her was written with it. Charlie listening and asked a few questions but for the most part Rebecca didn't leave anything out so he had nothing to ask.
They sat there cuddling and talking for an hour. Charlie got caught up on Rebecca's life and she drifted off to sleep. As Rebecca caught up on some sleep, Charlie sat there cherishing having Rebecca napping in his arms.
Greg and Sara walked in and saw the two.
"Hey, did you patch things up?" Greg asked as he walked past.
"Yeah, she told me what all was going on with her on her own like everyone said she would," Charlie whispered and the added, "I apologized for being crazy."
"Good," Sara commented as she walked past.
"Thanks you, two."
Sara looked at him strangely and asked, "For what?"
"For being good friends."
Greg grinned and said, "We're just glad things are getting back to normal."
And things were back to normal for the next week. Rebecca caught up on sleep and even though she was still tired she could handle things a lot better. Charlie had told her while they had sat by the fire about what Malfoy had said which ticked her off a little, but she decided to wait to retaliate for the comment for the match, which was just around the corner after all.
"Hey Rebecca! You ready for the match," Ryan said as Rebecca walked past on her way to breakfast.
"Um, Yeah, I think so," Rebecca responded with a warm smile stopping in front of the door to talk some more with her child hood friend.
"Nervous?"
"Of course, it is my first match." Rebecca was half laughing at the obvious answer, but Ryan could tell that she was trying hard to cover her nervousness.
Ryan decided he better act like a real friend and so in a soothing voice he said, "Don't worry we'll take it easy on you."
"Why?" Rebecca questioned looking at her friend curiously. "Were you holding back at the scrimmage?"
"No," Ryan slowly said going slightly pink because he knew that the Gryffindors hadn't used any moves that really told how good Rebecca was at the scrimmage and they still lost. "More because I have noticed that you have been stressed out lately and things don't seem to be going to well with Weasley, so I figured I would let you know that you don't have to worry about bludgers flying at your head. You know one less thing that you have to worry about."
"Well that is a good thing," Rebecca said with a smirk that made Ryan wonder what was going on in her head.
"What's a good thing?" Charlie asked as he walked up to the two.
As Charlie tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, Rebecca sweetly replied, "Ryan just assured me that I wouldn't have any bludgers flying to knock my head off during the match on Saturday."
"Oh, that is a good thing, because I like your head right where it is." Charlie then kissed Rebecca's temple and took her bag off her shoulder as he said, "I'll see you inside."
"Okay," Rebecca said with a smile.
As Charlie walked into the Great Hall, Rebecca turned back to Ryan who was dumbstruck at what he just saw.
"Things have been going a lot better between us," Rebecca explained in a smug sort of way because Ryan had stuck his foot in his mouth when he had responded to her why question.
"What are you still doing with that... that...that."
"That what?" Rebecca sternly asked him.
"That loser," Ryan hissed back at her.
They both shot daggers at each other. Rebecca looked as though she was about to say something, but instead turned and walked away into the Great Hall.
She wasn't about to start to get into a row with him. She had enough of it the week prior.
As she walked away, Ryan, who didn't care if his opinion started a row, yelled at her, "He's changed you. Before Charlie you never walked away from me."
Rebecca turned around and retorted, "Before Charlie, you never noticed me walking away."
"What is that suppose to mean?" Ryan hissed back walking towards her.
"It means that before I was dating Charlie you didn't care if I walked away from you. You're jealous or something for some reason."
"I am not jealous."
"Fine, dear cousin," Rebecca sarcastically said. "You're not jealous; you just don't like the idea that when I walk away from you I still have some one to talk to."
"I don't care if you that you have other friends to talk with that guy isn't good for you. You need to find some one else."
"OH, so is that why you stated to Russel that I was looking for someone new."
"How did you..."
"Listen Ryan I don't care if you think that Charlie and I don't make a good couple, because that is your opinion on a situation that you don't know everything on, but if you ever insinuate that I am cheating on my boyfriend, and mind you it doesn't even have to be Charlie, don't ever expect me to talk to you again."
"What?" Ryan took a step back and looked at her scared, because he knew that it wasn't an idle threat.
"You heard me. You have known me forever and know that I am not that type of person, so if you ever have the audacity to defame my personality by saying that I am looking for someone new while I am still dating someone, don't think that I am going to put up with it."
Rebecca turned and walked away while Ryan tried to grab her arm and make her stay. She was too quick and left without knowing that Ryan had more to say.
As Ryan watched Rebecca walk towards the Gryffindor table Russel walked up behind him.
"What's going on?" Russel asked when he realized that Ryan was staring darkly at the fifth year Gryffindors.
"Did you talk to Rebecca after I said she found out Weasley was a loser?"
"Ha," Russel forced a laugh, "like your cousin would talk to me on pleasant terms. Why?"
"Because she knew that I said she was looking for someone knew."
"How did she know that?"
"Don't know, but she wasn't overly happy about it."
"Well what did you expect you insulted the guy she is dating and she is the type that even if she is mad at him no one else can say something bad about him."
"No, that wasn't it, this time."
"What was it?"
"She said I insulted her personally."
"How?"
"Well the two are still dating and so saying..."
"She thinks that you think that she cheated on that loser," Russel said and then looked at Rebecca, who had this sad little expression on her face that was slowly being erased by her friends sitting with her.
"Yeah," Ryan let out an exasperated sigh.
"Serves you right for getting in trouble for that one," Russel muttered as he continued to stare at Rebecca who was now laughing right along with the rest of her group.
"WHAT?!" Ryan exclaimed shocking Russel and Cassie who had just came through the door with Dan, Hans, Sam, and Kirsta.
Russel was about to explain his comment when Cassie demanded, "What's going on?"
"Ryan got Rebecca mad at him for insinuating that she would cheat on someone."
Cassie gave Ryan a harsh look while Kirsta asked, "How did that come up?"
"When Rebecca and Weasley were in a row Ryan commented to me..."
"Well you don't need to be around her if she is a cheater and Charlie dumped her for it."
Russel took a deep breathe and tired to exhale slowly while counting to ten, but it didn't help.
He found himself shouting at Kirsta, "I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET THIS THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULL BUT WE AREN'T DATING AND NEVER WILL. SO DON'T GIVE ME THAT I SHOULDN'T BE AROUND CERTAIN PEOPLE." He then turned to Cassie and in a lower more threatening tone he told her, "And before you go all dramatic, if you even dare try to push me to take her to another ball or anything else I will give you something to be dramatic about."
Russel stormed off and took a seat between Harvey and Marcus so he didn't have to talk to them when they finally sat down.
"Well I never," Kirsta said as she watched Russel get a piece of parchment and some ink from his brother.
"Well it's not like he's your first choice either," Ryan blurted out. Cassie glared at him. "Oh give me a break, if Kirsta had her way, she would be with Dark. She wouldn't care who Russel was with then. And besides, she shouldn't have called Rebecca a cheater, because she's not. I said that she was looking for someone knew thinking that she had broken up with Weasley."
"There still together?" squealed Cassie. Ryan was taken back by his girlfriend's sudden change in moods.
"Yeah," he slowly answered as he looked at her curiously.
"That's great I was so afraid that they might break up will all those little fights they were having."
Cassie took him by the arm and led him to the table followed by Hans, Sam, and Dan as Ryan looked back at the brooding Kirsta.
Slowly Kirsta walked over to the table and took a seat next to Ryan.
"You okay?" Ryan whispered to her.
"Yeah," she soberly said. "You know he's right. If I was with A.J, I wouldn't care who he was with or liked to be with." Ryan didn't know what to say. "I have to tell him how I really feel now." IT was obvious to Ryan that Kirsta was talking about A.J. with that comment.
"Good luck with that." Kirsta could tell Ryan was being sarcastic so she gave him a questioning look causing Ryan to say, "With the match almost neigh the rivalries between the two houses are going to only heighten even more and getting around the Gryffindor team members is going to be near impossible. Sorry to burst your bubble, but I don't think that you will be able to talk to him this week."
"Oh, I will just watch me." Kirsta turned back to stare at the back of A.J. more determined than ever to tell her true feeling to A.J.
Kirsta looked for any reason to run into A.J. over the next week, but had no success.
Even when she had classes with the boy, she couldn't get more than two syllables out before either he moved away from her or one of his fellow housemates called him over to them.
In a final act of desperation, she even tried fainting in front of him. A.J. just walked past her allowing her to fall her to the ground hard. No one is quite sure how she managed it, but Kirsta knocked herself out and had to be taken to the infirmary.
Of course, she wasn't the only Slytherin trying to talk to a Gryffindor and failing miserable. Harvey tried to talk to Lauren on several occasions. Finally on the Friday before the meet he cornered her right before lunch.
"Why didn't you respond to my letter?" he asked as he forced her in a corner.
"What letter?" Lauren asked trying to get past him.
"The letter I sent you last Monday."
"I didn't get a letter from anyone. In fact all I got was a piece of paper with a bunch of smiley faces."
"What?" Harvey went white.
"You heard me. It was a bunch of smiley faces. If you don't believe me ask Rebecca I showed it to her. She about died laughing."
"I don't believe you," Harvey hissed.
Lauren stared into the Slytherin's eyes boldly almost daring him to call her a liar. Harvey turned around and saw Rebecca walking past with Charlie.
"Hey Carter," he called out.
Rebecca turned to see Harvey beckoning to her and was about to continue walking until she saw Lauren back into corner. She grabbed Charlie by the arm and led him over to the first years.
"What do you want?" Rebecca asked as she approached Harvey.
Lauren rushed over to Charlie's side as Rebecca took a step away from the two.
"Did Lauren so you a piece of paper with smiley faces all over it?" Harvey asked still as pale as he was when Lauren had told him about it.
Rebecca looked at him and then at Lauren with a confused face.
As she looked back at Harvey she said, "Yeah, why?"
"What?" Harvey started to panic. Rebecca looked at him slightly amused.
"What's going on here?" Russel asked as he approached the group. He had been walking by and was curious why Harvey was talking to Rebecca. Half of him hoped that his question would lead to a conversation with Rebecca even if it was monitored by Charlie.
Rebecca turned to Russel and said, "Your housemate thinks I am a liar."
"I did not!"
Rebecca snickered a little and then said, "But you questioned me when I told you that I did see the piece of paper full of smiley faces."
"Smiley faces?" Russel asked as his face went as white as Harvey's. "I thought we got rid of all of those," he hissed at the first year.
"It was before we got in trouble," Harvey responded.
"You got in trouble?" Rebecca asked struggling to hide her giddiness.
Russel stared at her wondering why she was so interested in them getting in trouble as he explained that the teachers noticed that homework from the Slytherins were all smiley faces and that Snape had noticed when he came into speak to them about it that several first years were flipping through notebooks and several of the pages had smiley faces on it. "We don't know what happened to all of our ink, but we found out that if you hold the paper over a flame that it turns back."
"How did you find that out?"
Russel started to get suspicious of Rebecca's questions but the idea of her actually civilly talking to him and keeping the conversation going herself caused him to over look it.
"Oh, Alannah threw some papers in the fire and when I walked by I noticed that the faces were changing back to words."
"Oh," Rebecca said in a very enlightened way while Charlie smirked, because he knew what she and her other cohorts had done.
"Yeah, well we still got rid of our ink and bought new bottles for everyone last weekend, because it took forever for the ink to change to smiley faces if it was and then changing it back took a while too. The costs of the time and the stress was greater than us just buying new. You know opportunity costs type stuff."
"Uh-huh," Rebecca agreed.
"I did keep a bottle though," Russel sly said.
"Why?" Rebecca looked at him shocked.
"Well you never know when it might come in handy." Russel had an all knowing smile that was a bit on the creepy side.
Charlie had about as much as he could take.
He gentle grabbed Rebecca's hand and said, "We need to get to Lauren to lunch."
Rebecca nodded and was about to leave with him when Russel grabbed her other arm preventing her from leaving.
"What's the matter Weasley? Can't take the little first year into the Great Hall by yourself?" Russel asked trying to push Charlie's buttons.
Charlie glared at the Slytherin and responded, "No, I don't want Rebecca talking to you by herself in case you decide to hex her."
Russel's jaw dropped for a moment and then regained his composure in an instant to say, "Now why would I hex her when I am going to get to go on a date with her."
"Ha," Rebecca responded before Charlie could say anything. As she twisted out of Russel's grip, Rebecca continued, "Like that is going to happen since Charlie is going to get the snitch first."
"That's what you think."
"Charlie has beaten you in years past and he beat you at the scrimmage."
"Barely," Russel said through gritted teeth.
"Still beat you," Rebecca retorted as she walked off with Charlie.
As the three Gryffindors made there way to table, Rebecca noticed that Charlie looked slightly nervous.
"You okay?" she whispered to him when they were taking their seats.
"Um, yeah." lied Charlie.
"Liar."
Charlie looked at her for a moment and finally decided to cave and tell Rebecca that Russel was right when he said barely. "If he sees the snitch before me, I might not be able to get it. He has gotten better since last year. I... I... I might lo..."
"No you're not," Rebecca stopped him. "You still have more talent than Flint. He just has a faster broom to try to make up for the talent that he lacks."
"I don't have the money to get a new broom," Charlie informed her.
"Who said anything about buying? I was thinking about trading."
Charlie gave her a curious look and then quietly asked, "What's your plan?"
"We trade brooms." Charlie gave her a more confused look so she quickly explained, "I know that it sounds funny, but if we trade you will have the fast broom on the field."
"Yeah, but..."
"But what? Your broom is a closer make to Greg's and Anna's so I won't have to hold back so much?"
"You have been holding back?"
"Well... Yeah, I can't just fly as fast as I possible could since they weren't able to keep up with me. Your broom will let me get in sync with them without really thinking about it, which will be good for my nerves. ... Come on. We can try it out at that mini practice Wood called for tonight and if you don't like it we don't have to do it at the match."
Charlie sat there for a moment and finally whispered to her, "I know I figured out why you are in Gryffindor a while ago, but I think I just figure out why it took so long for the sorting hat to announce it." Rebecca gave him a confused look wondering where he was going with the next line. "Ravenclaw was up for the running too." Rebecca blushed slightly as Charlie continued, "I think it is a brilliant plan. I just have on thing to add to it. I think though that we shouldn't switch until right before we go into the air of the opening toss. It might throw the Slytherins off mentally."
Charlie turned his head and smiled at her.
Rebecca smiled back and put her head on his shoulders while she thought, 'Good now hopefully we can pull this off and I get to go scotch free with my ring from the bet.'
After lunch, Rebecca needed to run upstairs to grab a book she had forgotten in the dorm. On her way to Defense class she had a run in with Ryan.
Probably if the two hadn't been mad at each other from their row earlier in the week there wouldn't have been an incident come from the situation, but that was not the case. Ryan was in a foul mood so he instantly picked a fight with Rebecca by saying that if she wasn't a cheater now she would be when she had her date with Russel and then started to walk off without letting her get a word out.
To say Rebecca was livid would be an understatement. She stormed off to class barely able to restrain herself from chasing after him and just decking her childhood best friend.
At the mini practice, Rebecca found herself taking out her aggression by trying to beat Aaron around the hoops when she was in the position to score. While in the locker room at the end of practice Wood congratulated her not only for taking the practice serious unlike most of the member, but also for her excellent broom switching plan.
"I think that it will throw Flint for a loop that he won't know how to recover from," Aaron said as the team changed out of their practice robes. "Now I want everyone to have a good night sleep. None of this staying up late crap that you all like to do on the weekend. I want to see you all down at breakfast. We will need our energy for the match!"
Rebecca smiled as she put her stuff back in her locker and walked out with Charlie and the rest of the team.
They all went and sat in the common room with the rest of their friends. Many students walked up and wished them good luck as they all enjoyed each others company.
Finally under the watchful eye of their captain the headed up to bed. Rebecca laid down in her bed and instantly felt herself drifted off to sleep. Even though she was having no problems getting to sleep, she knew that her nerves wouldn't allow her to stay sleeping for too long.