Rebecca walked out of the infirmary almost as good as new. Madame Pompfrey
had healed the gash on the Gryffindor's forehead, but the headache that
Rebecca was suffering from hadn't left so Madame Pompfrey gave her more
Muggle medicine for it.
Upon walking out the door Rebecca looked down at the bottle in her hand. She had to admit for all that happened she was extremely glad that all she had to do was take a couple of pills.
She rounded the corner and almost ran into Ryan.
"Hey," Rebecca quietly said. She wasn't sure what the status of their friendship was, but she was hoping that another row wouldn't ensue for she didn't think that she could stand it.
"Rebecca," Ryan said as he took as step towards her. As he wrapped his arms around her he whispered in her ear, "I am so sorry. I don't know what I would have done if you got seriously hurt out there."
Rebecca hugged him back and Ryan continued to whisper, "I am so glad Charlie caught you when he did."
Rebecca jerked back from shock leaving Ryan wondering what was wrong.
"I am sorry. I just never heard you call him Charlie before."
"Oh," Ryan blushed slightly. "Well I guess that shows you how much I care. That one act has pretty much left me indebted to him."
"Why?" Rebecca asked confused on how Ryan saw himself fitting into the whole situation.
"Well I don't know what I would do if you had... had... had died. I mean if he hadn't of caught you, you would have fell 50 ft to the ground and I don't know whether anyone would have thought of a spell fast enough to save you from really getting hurt."
Rebecca smiled at her childhood best friend and said, "Come on let's take a walk."
"Really?"
"Yeah, let's go see what we can explore," Rebecca responded taking his arm and leading him towards a section of the castle she hadn't really been in before.
Ryan and Rebecca took off down the corridor and passed and intersection that Dan, Hans, and Same were walking down.
"Can you believe that Weasel deck Russel, even though he was going to let her out of the bet," Dan asked seeing Rebecca with Ryan.
"Yeah, poor guy," Hans said shaking his head. "He was really looking forward to winning that date and now he has to put up with the fact that he didn't win because of his talent, but because Weasley went after Rebecca. There is no way that he would enjoy a date with her if she could throw that in his face every time he turned around. He was willing to let her out of it and he gets a black eye."
"So he is going to go through with it still?" Sam questioned.
"Yeah, he said that he needed something to get back at Weasley for the black eye and he figured the kiss at the end of the date would drive the guy nuts. Too bad he doesn't have have good prospects of actually enjoying the date."
"Why don't we make it so that it is," Dan piped in.
"What?" the two boys asked in unison.
"We get Rebecca mad at Charlie and Russel picks up the pieces. We just need to get Charlie to attack Ryan."
"Why Ryan?" Hans asked.
"Because she won't take it. He is in good with her right now."
"Oh, we'll make Weasley appear to be a bully," Hans commented.
"Yep, we just need to get a good story, perhaps something with the bludgers. Akira and Harrison did a good job at making those bludgers appear to be betwitched they way that they kept going after her."
"Nice plan, but slight problem how do we get something that keeps Russel out of trouble."
"Yeah, Wesaley is going to go after him again," Sam chimed in.
"Oh, come on, we have been around Cassie enough that we should be able to make up a good dramatic story that makes Russel look good. Besides you're forgetting that Russel wasn't in the first bludger bewitching and we really aren't sure that Ryan didn't do it. You saw how upset he was. What ever we say will be very plausible because of all these facts..." Dan continued to talk and eventually Hans and Sam agreed to attempt to foment another row in between Rebecca and Charlie so that Russel can pick up the pieces and actually enjoy his date with Rebecca.
Charlie walked out of the common room worried that something was really wrong with Rebecca. What he didn't know was that Rebecca was out with Ryan trying to give him more time to cool down. She really didn't want to concentrate on what to say to keep him calm while she had a headache. From the little bit that she tried before she went to the infirmary, she could tell that it would only make her head hurt worse and she really didn't want to faint on Charlie. After all it might send him on to a tirade.
Charlie walked down the hall towards the infirmary he almost ran into Harvey, who was recruited by Dan, Hans, and Sam to find Charlie. Harvey ran off to dispense with his duties.
Charlie continued down not thinking about the incident. In fact he was really focused on where he was going until he heard Hans say something about the bludgers at the game.
"You know Ryan sent the bludger at her," Dan said off hand when he was walking across the intersection that Charlie was approaching.
"Yeah, never thought he would be that mad," Hans responded.
"What do you think he will do if Carter ever finds out?" Sam asked.
"Probably deny the whole thing. Of course that isn't the only thing he as done to her," Dan answered.
"What else did he do?"
"Well, he fed ideas to Russel, about how to 'win' her. You know like challenging Weasley with the bet and telling him about her weaknesses."
"Why would he do something like that?"
"Because he was ticked off with her from the get go and her being in a different house just amplified things. I think they were getting to a good point, but then another row and out came the bludger controlling spell," chimed in Hans.
Charlie over heard this and immediately saw red. He had never thought that Ryan would stoop to such a low level to get back at Rebecca. But then again, he was the one that had used it to try to get Charlie, so maybe he did.
In a flash, Charlie went to hunt down Malfoy and get some answers.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" Charlie shouted when he rounded the corner and found Ryan talking with Rebecca.
"CHARLIE!" screamed Rebecca as she watched Charlie walk right past her and slug Ryan right in the eye.
As Ryan fell to the ground from shock, Rebecca tried to rush to his side, but Charlie would not permit her to.
"WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?" shouted Rebecca as she finally pushed Charlie out of the way so that she could help Ryan up. "He was just telling me how glad he was that you caught me! And that your pride didn't get in the way of you saving my life!"
"He sent the bludger after you," Charlie replied back glaring at Ryan who had just gotten back to his feet.
Rebecca instantly dropped Ryan's arm and just stared at him.
"I didn't do it," Ryan quickly said knowing that she might actually believe what Charlie said even if it wasn't the truth.
"But you did it before," Rebecca almost whispered.
"But, I didn't..."
"Leave," Rebecca ordered.
She was torn on whether he was actually telling the truth or not. With what had happened to Cathrine when Ryan tried to get Charlie with the bludger and Ryan and her having a row earlier before the match, she just plain didn't know.
Ryan walked off to give her the space that she obviously need.
Rebecca stared as the Slytherin walked away. She was obviously was upset, so Charlie wrapped his arms around her in an attempt to comfort her.
Unfortunately, Charlie's actions did not go over well with Rebecca. She ended up elbowing him hard in the ribs. Charlie dropped his arms from around Rebecca and she tried to walk away from him, but couldn't get too far.
He grabbed her arm and held his ribs as he shouted, "What was that for?!"
"That was for not telling me about the bludger thing before you went off and hit Ryan." Rebecca hissed darkly staring into Charlie's eye.
As she tried to get loose from Charlie's grip, Charlie held Rebecca's arm tighter and said, "WAIT! You are mad at me because I gave the prat what he deserved."
"No I am anger because you decided to take care of it on your own without consulting me about it," Rebecca stopped struggling and gazed at Charlie defiantly. "What did you think that I would let Ryan go without as much as a peep from me?"
"No, but..."
"BUT WHAT? Your ego got in the way? You didn't think that I could take care of myself? NEW FLASH, I was fine before I was dating you."
"And you're not now?" Charlie hissed dropping Rebecca's arm. Rebecca stood silent for a moment, not sure what she wanted to say.
"Well?" Charlie questioned forcing her to answer.
"If you would let me stand up for myself you would know that I am fine," Rebecca started. "But no, you have to barge in acting all macho and treat me like this dainty little girl that can't do anything for herself. You're too proud..."
"I'm too proud?" Charlie cut her off. "Look who's talking. Little Miss..."
"Charlie, Rebecca, what is going on?" James said as he walked around the corner. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"Nothing," Rebecca said and turned to leave.
"Don't you dare walk away," Charlie sternly said a walking up to her and grabbing her arm.
CRACK!
Rebecca slapped Charlie right across the face trying to get her arm free from him.
Rebecca gasped. She couldn't believe what she had done. Both Charlie and James stood there in disbelief, as Rebecca started to back away with tears forming in her eyes.
She didn't wait for either of them to start saying anything. She just turned and dashed away.
Rebecca ran up to her dorm room and shut the curtains around her tears streaming down her face. Before she had a chance to bury her head into her pillow, she noticed a letter sitting on it. Quickly, she ripped it open and saw that it was from Stacy. With blurry eyes, Rebecca began to read the letter.
Dear Rebecca,
Hey Girl! How are you? Did you get caught up on sleep? I have been so worried about you, since your last letter. I was sorry to hear you and Charlie had been fighting, but I am glad to hear that you patched everything up. It sounded like you had a full plate with everything. Hopefully, everything is slowing down with the quidditch season coming to an end. Speaking of that, you have to let me know how the match went. I am hoping that this reaches you before it, so that you know that I wish you good luck, but the weather here has been so bad that I don't know whether any owls will be to keen on delivering the message until things blow over. Anyways, I better catch you up with what is going on with me since I haven't written in like forever I found it interesting that you mentioned that you knew Kalie's boyfriend when you did, because the issue came up. Ben and Whitney were starting to pick on her because of they said he was a figment of her imagination when she wouldn't let them read the letters that she had received from him. Kalie wasn't too happy about it, but let's face it, who would be. Well I didn't like what was going on so I stepped in and said that you had mentioned that you knew Adam and he talked about dating Kalie. Ben got mad at me for sticking up for her. I couldn't believe it. Of course things have gotten worse around here since you left and Ben and Sydney got together. Ben picks on people mercilessly and anyone that tries to stand up to him gets black listed, which is where I am at. I was ostracized from our so- called friends, because if they are too chicken to find out what will happen to them if they continued to associate with me. Ty actually broke up with me because of it. Of course I got the last laugh, because I didn't act upset or anything, which I wasn't because I really think he ought to be with Emily and just didn't get around to breaking up with him myself since I have been busy studying for OWLs. Well, he got upset because of my lack of emotion and that off course lead him to start a row that I won. Now, I know that I just painted a bleak picture of my social life, but don't worry. Kalie and I are becoming better friends because of it. I never really got why you liked her so much, but now I totally understand. She is so funny and when she describes herself as weird it cracks me up, because I am starting to see the little quirks that I have to that make me weird to other people. Anyways, I have been having a blast hanging out with her and she introduced me to Kerry. I don't know whether you knew her or not, but she is about 5'1" with shoulder length light blonde hair. Um, on the thin side of life and let me think... OH! You always noticed eyes. She has these deep blue eyes that make her stand out. Anyways, I'll send you a picture to help jog your memory. Kerry is great and has been another life saver to me. She is so cheerful that she as kept me up beat even when Colleen and Gwen were whispering behind my back. Oh well, I don't want to be one of them and hurt people's feeling so I am going to continue hanging out and talking with Kalie and Kerry. Maybe we can get together this summer with you and your other girlfriends and do something. Well I got to get going. GOOD LUCK WITH O.W.L.s!!!!!!!!
Later,
Stacy
Rebecca finished the letter and just stared at it. She couldn't imagine having to make all new friends the way Stacy was. Of course after slapping Charlie, whether on purpose or on accident, there was the possibility she might find herself in the same position.
'Of course, it is what I would deserve it,' Rebecca thought as she reread the part where Stacy announced that she was ostracized. 'Stacy was only sticking up for Kalie and look what happened. That is not right, people shouldn't be punished for helping people stand up to bullies.' Rebecca stopped for a moment. 'Charlie had been trying to help me out when I yelled at him. Of course he did just hull off and slug Ryan so he technically was the bully in it all. But then again, Charlie's anger stemmed from Ryan's supposed involvement with the bludger knocking her off. Of course, Ryan said he didn't do it. But he did get Cathrine when he was trying to get Charlie, so he might have gotten her inadvertently.' Rebecca's head was spinning. She couldn't make sense of anything. 'I got to write Stacy and see what she can make from the situation. Maybe even just putting the words down in writing might help me make sense of it all.'
Rebecca got up and grabbed a couple rolls of parchment and a bottle of ink. She closed her curtains back up and began to write.
Dear Stacy,
Just then Sara, Cathrine, and Jacquelyn entered the room and opened up her curtains.
"Can we talk to you?" Sara somberly asked.
Rebecca knew exactly what they wanted to talk about it.
"Can I get my thoughts straight on it first?"
"You slapped Charlie," Cathrine said giving Rebecca the straightest face she had ever seen on the prankster's face.
"I know," Rebecca started as she felt more tears start to form. She could feel herself start to hyperventilate as she quickly added, "I didn't mean to. It just happened. He had my elbow and as I turned to look at him, I tried to twist may arm to get free and I got him."
"You know he was just trying to protect you, right?" Jacquelyn questioned sort of harshly.
"I know, but..." Rebecca cried frustrated.
"Are you going to apologize to him?" Sara fired at her.
"Probably," Rebecca defensively responded as she picked up her quill, ink, and parchment. "I need..."
"When?" Cathrine demanded before Rebecca could say anything else.
"I don't know," Rebecca jumped off her bed. "I just need some time to get things straight in my head, first!"
She ran out of the room with her writing supplies leaving the other girls in the room shocked about her reaction to their questions.
After a moment the girls headed down the stairs soberly. The girls went and sat next to their boyfriends who were sitting by the fire. Charlie came and plunked into an empty chair with the group looking more upset than he was when the girls first went up to talk to Rebecca.
"What happened up stairs?" he asked soberly staring at the girls as he leaned forward from his chair.
Sara, Jacquelyn, and Cathrine looked at each other and then spilled out everything.
"I shouldn't have asked you to talk to her about it," Charlie mournfully said as he slumped back in the chair and rubbed his face where Rebecca slapped him. "Guys, this is a row between me and Rebecca. Please, don't stop talking to her because of this."
"But Charlie," Jacquelyn started to protest.
"But what? She slapped me, but she hasn't done that before. She won't do it again."
"She said it was an accident," Sara said quietly. Everyone looked at Charlie to see what he would say.
"If she said it was, it probably was."
"Are you going to go after her?" James asked.
"I think we need some time apart to get things before we try to get things resolved."
"Sounds like a good plan," Greg commented.
"Wonder where she ran to?" pondered Colin.
Rebecca ran up to the owlery. She knew there was a desk up there and was hoping that she could get her letter done and everything straight in her head, before any of her friends tried to talk to her again.
Rebecca ran faster trying to out run the thoughts in her head. When she hit the last set of steps to the owlery, she tripped and hit and fell forward on the steps. She managed to catch herself before she completely hit the steps, but her shins and knees still took a beating.
After hobbling up the rest of the stairs she opened the door and limped into the room.
As she headed to the desk, she heard a boy ask, "What happened to you?"
"Tripped on the steps," she answered in a monotone voice not looking up to see who was talking to her.
"Oh, you poor thing."
Rebecca rolled her eyes and started to work on the letter to Stacy telling her friend everything that had happened over the past week from her row with Ryan to the quidditch match, to the bet to the gash on her head to the walk with Ryan to the row with Charlie and then onto the other girls questioning her. She finished the letter with tears in her eyes since she was still as confused as she was before and as she folded the letter she couldn't help but sniffle slightly.
Rebecca tied the letter to one of the school owl that immediately took off. Rebecca stared out the window until the owl was out. She turned to leave and saw Russel standing there.
"You know if you were that shaken up by the bet," Russel started, but stopped because the look Rebecca's face told him that it had nothing to do with him or the bet. "Are you okay?"
Rebecca leaned up against the window jam and looked at Russel's face which had a nice shiner now.
"Did you do anything to provoke Charlie when he hit you?" she asked on most on the verge of tears.
Russel touched his back eye and said, "Well, yeah, I kind of had that goal in mind, but that was before I knew that you had been knocked out of the air. The guy deserves kudos for catching you and ignoring me going after the snitch. I mean no one has ever gotten either of us to put aside our rivalry, not even the teachers that have made the unfortunate mistake of pair us together. Never thought I would see the day where we would have agreed on the same thing."
Rebecca put her hand up to head and looked like she was really in pain.
"Are you okay?" Russel asked more concerned than he was before.
"I just have a headache. It's noth..."
Rebecca paused for a moment and stared at the boy.
The accusing manner in which she did this caused Russel to fidget slightly and said, "I didn't do it."
"But you cursed me before."
"Yes, I know I was horrible and cursed you and sent you to the infirmary. Then I won your trust with a truce and I shattered it by not telling you about the ring and the map. I admit that you have every right not to trust me, but I am telling you the truth and if you think back on all the times I tried the headache spell, I was muttering and I haven't muttered anything now."
Even though she didn't really want to believe him she couldn't help it. After all she had had the headache before she went to the infirmary and really it wasn't any worst at the moment as it was then.
"Your right," Rebecca sniffed.
"Rebecca," Russel said taking a step towards her as she started to cry. "Please talk to me. I know I don't deserve to be privelaged to knowing what is going on in your life, but you need someone to talk to. Please let me be your sounding board, just like I was at Christmas."
All of the sudden Rebecca went sheet white.
"Rebecca!" he cried as he grabbed her from falling.
Russel picked Rebecca up and moved over to the chair by the desk. He sat down and tried to revive her. Rebecca's head was tilted down so he couldn't tell if she was awake.
To tell the truth even though he loved just holding her, he was truly worried about her and just wanted a sign that she was okay, even if she jumped out of his arms. Finally he heard her sniff and felt her shake slightly from her silently cried.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he softly asked. Rebecca remained silent so he decided to try to get her to say something so he said, "You know, you never did answer my question."
"What question?" Rebecca whispered.
Russel was ecstatic that his plan worked so he soothingly asked, "So beautiful when will it be?"
"When will what be?" Rebecca asked trying to get Russel mad at her and leave her alone.
"Our date," Russel said as pleasantly as he could so that she might calm down. "I was thinking about a stroll around Hogsmeade and then maybe a candle light dinner up at..."
Russel stopped mid sentence when he noticed Rebecca was slightly laughing.
"What so funny?" he growled as he dropped his arms to his side.
"You think the date is going to happen this term," laughed Rebecca. "There are OWLs to study for."
"Okay, how about this summer? We'll go to London and have a night out on the town."
"Don't know where I will be this summer."
"Right, well then how about next year, first weekend at Hogsmeade, then?"
"Don't know whether I will be back. I haven't done everything yet."
There was this sad agonizing tone to her voice, almost as if now she didn't see the point to finishing up her tasks. Russel could stand it any more he instantly wrapped his arms around her again.
"Please talk to me. You'll feel better if you do. I know you will," Russel sincerely pleaded with her.
Rebecca let out a sigh and then found herself spilling her guts to him. She went on for a while and repeated somethings over and over. Russel tried his best to give her objective points of view and advice, but it was hard since it had to do with her dealing with Charlie. He found it was best just to let her ramble on by herself after a while. By the end she had gotten everything straight in her head and felt as though she could talk to Charlie in a civil manner now.
Rebecca had kept her head down all the time that she talked. Now she felt as though she need to look Russel in the face and thank him.
She moved her head to look up at him and said, "Thank you for listening..." Rebecca couldn't get the rest out because Russel's had been looking down at her and his lips hit hers when she looked up.
Rebecca almost instantly tried to back out of the kiss, but she was on his lap and couldn't just step back from it. Russel was in heaven and moved his hand to the back of her head to try to keep her there. Rebecca quickly turned away, and jumped out of his hold and ran out the door new tears streaming down his face.
Russel sat there for a moment really happy. He couldn't believe that he had actually gotten to kiss her. Yes it was only for second, but still she had kissed him.
Rebecca ran down the steps towards the Great Hall wanting everything about the day to be a dream. She was willing to actually fall off her broom and not get caught if it meant that the kiss didn't actually happen.
"Rebecca! What's the matter?"
Rebecca looked up to see Lennon and Jenna standing in front of her on the landing. Being a bit startled, Rebecca slipped and fell backwards on the steps causing herself to sit on the stairs.
She just sat there and started to really cry. It wasn't just few tears that just happened to escape it this time. Every tear that her eyes decided to produce was free to flow down her face.
As the two Ravenclaw girls rushed up to try to comfort her and find out what was causing all the tears, but Rebecca's sobs were too overpowering for them to believe she could actually hear anything they said.
The girls finally relented on asking questions and just sat there with the Gryffindor and patted her back. Both were secretly hoping that Rebecca would calm down enough to at least fill them in on what was going on.
"What's the matter, Becca?" Bill asked after rounding the corner and seeing Rebecca sitting on the steps with her head on her knees and Jenna and Lennon trying to console her.
"Don't know," Lennon responded "She came down the steps and had tears running down her face and when we asked her what was wrong she just sat down and cried harder."
"Do you have any clue what might have happened?" Jenna asked the head boy.
"Charlie and her got into a pretty big row," Bill whispered hoping Rebecca couldn't hear him, but Rebecca did hear him.
She started to sob harder, not because she thought of the row earlier that day, but because of the row that would ensue from her kissing Russel.
'How am I going to convince him that it was an accident?' was all she could think.
Bill understandably misinterpreted the crescendo of tears and soothingly said, "Oh, Becca, don't cry. Charlie isn't mad at you for slapping him. He understands that he should have talked to you first, but he was more worried about your safety. You didn't know that Ryan had sent the bludgers after you during the games, so when Charlie hit him it was a huge shock. He knows that you wouldn't have done it if you knew everything and wants to talk to you about it when you are ready to."
Rebecca didn't look up, but managed to regain some more control over her tears.
"There that is better," Bill soothingly continued. "Come on let's go and talk to Charlie. You'll feel better about everything after you do and you know everything that he heard about the bludger situtaion."
"The bludger situation?"
Ryan had just walked around the corner in search of Russel. Bill turned around and saw Ryan standing there with a fresh shiner.
"Yeah, the bludger situation, Malfoy," Bill coolly responded as he stared accusingly at the Slytherin.
"I didn't do it, Weasel," Ryan hissed.
Ryan's plead of innocent went on deaf ears. Jenna and Lennon had heard enough from Bill trying to calm down Rebecca that they believed Charlie had the right idea.
"Rebecca, come on you know me. I don't want to see you hurt. I am sorry that you got knocked off of the broom, but you got to believe me, I did not do it!"
Rebecca didn't even stir. She couldn't understand why Charlie would accuse him of doing such a thing if he didn't have proof that Ryan had at least a hand in it.
"Please, I am sorry about it, but I didn't do it."
Ryan tried to take a step towards Rebecca to get her to look at him, but Bill stepped in his way.
"I didn't do it!"
"Then why do you keep apologizing for it?" Lennon finally asked.
She just couldn't understand why he was being so insistent that he wasn't a part of the situation when he kept saying he was sorry for it. Ryan turned towards Lennon and saw her face of stone staring back at him.
"Because I am sorry she had to go through it," Ryan slowly started. "I am sorry everyone had to watch it happen in the stadium. I am sure that everyone had a couple years taken off of their lives because of it. I don't ever want to see her hurt so I am sorry when it happens or when it comes close to happening even if I have nothing to do with it."
Lennon looked into Ryan's steely grey eyes and her face softened.
"You really didn't do it, did you?" she whispered.
"No, I didn't," Ryan softly replied. He was happy that he found one person to listen to him finally.
CLAP... CLAP... CLAP...
Ryan and Lennon turned to see Bill clapping slowly.
"Nice acting, Malfoy," Bill said after he stopped clapping.
"What?" Lennon questioned wondering what was going through her boyfriend's head.
"Oh, please," Bill relied. "Don't tell me you actually believe he is telling the truth, Len?"
"Yes, I do," Lennon defiantly.
"Than tell me why his cronies were having a conversation about how he did it."
"My cronies?" Ryan questioned.
"Yeah, Charlie was walking in the hall when he heard them discussing you sending the bludgers after Becca."
Rebecca's head instantly popped up. She knew there had to have something for Charlie to off. She looked at Ryan in a manner that did not accuse him of actually doing anything, but more or less said, 'they did it, but was it the truth?'
Ryan turned around quickly and left the scene, determined to get proof that he was innocent.
"See, Len, he did it!" Bill told Lennon while pointing at the back of Ryan. "Why else would he leave?"
"MAYBE, he wanted to find out why his cronies were spreading a rumor that he had done it!" Lennon fired back.
She had said it loud enough that Ryan could hear it while he rounded the corner on his search for Hans, Dan, Sam, and the answer to the questions that was running through his head.
'Always did like McCartney. Wonder what she is doing with a loser like Weasely?' he thought as he got out of ear shot.
Jenna and Rebecca remained where they were though they both wished they could shrink away. Bill and Lennon were really getting into it.
"Why are you making up excuses for the creep when all the evidence points to him?" Bill demanded.
"I looked into his eye and there wasn't a hint that said he was lying," Lennon retorted.
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah, do you have a problem with that?"
"Yes, I do. The guy went after my brother with bewitched bludgers and got Cathrine in the process. He has proven that when he wants to get some one he doesn't care what means he uses to get them."
"Oh so you're saying he is a bad guy then?"
"In this case," Bill said. He knew that Rebecca had grown up with Ryan and she wouldn't have been friends with him if there wasn't some good in him.
"Well, he isn't!"
"Len, quit being stubborn and face the facts!"
"I have and what I see is a guy who is getting persecuted BY YOU for something he didn't do!"
Bill didn't respond and Lennon didn't bother to continue. They both just stared at each other.
Jenna and Rebecca looked back and forth between the two wondering what was going to happen next.
Before anyone said another word Charlie's voice came down the hall.
"We have to find her. She has been gone too long?"
Charlie came around the corner with Greg, James, and Colin and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Bill and Lennon intensely looking at each other.
As he surveyed the scene he saw the look of concern on Rebecca's and Jenna's face.
"What's going on?" he asked as he and his friends approached.
"Lennon, here, is being naive in thinking that Ryan is innocent, even though everything from what you heard to his action just now, says he isn't," Bill replied still staring at Lennon.
She didn't respond to his comment, but her eyes narrowed and she let out a huff.
Charlie was preparing what to say to get the situation calmed down when Ryan who was looking furious came into view with Hans, Dan and Sam. Adam, Kurt, Audrey, and Kevin were behind the four Slytherins with very curious expressions.
The four Ravenclaws came over and took a seat next to Rebecca and Jenna as Ryan ordered, "You tell them exactly what you told me."
Hans, Dan, and Sam looked at each other and then with a little more prodding from Ryan Dan stepped up and said, "We made up the story about the bludgers being bewitched to get Carter."
"Why?" Charlie said through gritted teeth.
"So that you and Carter would get in a fight," Dan hissed back.
"Malfoy, your friends are incorrigible," Bill commented looking nearly as anger as his brother.
"Why you little prats," Kurt said as he got up from beside Jenna and walked over to be with Greg, James, and Colin. Kevin and Adam got up too and glaring at the three Slytherins stood beside the Gryffindors.
The three Slytherins didn't seem too worried until Ryan step through them and as he walked to be with the Ravenclaws and the Gryffindors commented, "I don't know why you ever thought it would be a good idea."
"Hey what's going on?" came a voice over group.
Everyone turned up to see Russel who was still smiling from the kiss coming down the steps. Rebecca shuttered and turned back to the larger group as Ryan explained about the rumor.
"Why did you guys want to start a fight between those two?" Russel snarled upset that it was his friends that had caused Rebecca so much suffering this time round.
"So that you could have a good time on your date with Carter," responded Sam timidly.
Well that was the end of what could be called the peace of the discussion, because Russel exploded and yelled, "WHO ASKED YOU TO DO THAT? I SURE DIDN'T!"
As Russel continued ripping into the three boys, Ryan started with, "HOW DARE YOU MAKE UP SOMETHING ABOUT ME!"
Charlie of course had a few choice words to say so he joined in to the yelling.
The other fifth year boys kept their mouths closed but everyone could tell that they were ready to jump in if a physical fight started even if they had no intent on stopping anything.
Bill, on the other hand, probably would have told the three lying Slytherins off, but Lennon had commented, "See I was right, he didn't do it. Still think that I am a bad judge of character!"
"I never said that you were a bad judge of character!" Bill told her back.
"You called me naïve that sounds like that was what you were insinuating!"
"Well, you were acting that way, so if that what it means to you that must have been what you were!"
As those two's side spat continued, Audrey, Jenna, and Rebecca sat on the steps at the big confrontation. None of them knew what to do to stop it. The sound of the huge row was more than Rebecca's head could take. She got up the steps to get away from it all.
"Are you okay?" Audrey asked when Rebecca started to get up.
"I have a headache," was all Rebecca answered.
She moved past the boys and farther down the hall back towards the Gryffindor tower. She didn't make it much farther when she felt like her head was going to split open.
"Oh!" Rebecca gasped and then fell to the floor.
"BECCA!" Jenna cried over the yelling that was going on as she and Audrey rushed to her.
Adam had noticed Rebecca walk past looking pale and was already by her side. Charlie had stopped yelling as did the others when they hear Jenna. Adam flipped Rebecca over and started to try to revive her as Charlie rushed to her side.
Audrey and Jenna instantly jumped up knowing that if they didn't they were going to get knocked out of the way. They were right, because Charlie dropped down to Rebecca's side and relieved Adam of his duty to wake up Rebecca. It took a minute, but Charlie managed to get Rebecca revived.
She blinked several time before every thing came into focus and she saw, Ryan, Russel and Charlie peering over all with the same concerned/relieved look in their face. Rebecca laid there for a moment until she remembered what had happened up in the owlery.
With in a second of her realization, Rebecca was up from the ground and out from the group that surrounded her. She dashed around the corner hoping that she could get away from everyone.
However she was wrong, Charlie chased after her.
Rebecca was about to the stairs that lead to the Gryffindor tower when Charlie caught up with her.
"Becca, please stop," Charlie said to her as he wrapped his arm around her waist.
He had a feeling that she would stop running if he did so. He let out a sigh of relief when Rebecca proved him right, because she instantly stopped.
"Becca, why did you run off from everyone?" Charlie whispered in her ear. "We were all so worried about you."
Rebecca didn't hear the last bit of what he said, because she was thinking about why.
'I kissed Russel,' Rebecca thought as she sat down and started to cry again. Like Bill, Charlie misread his girl's tears to mean that she was upset that she got so mad at him for going off and punching Ryan after he heard the fake story. He sat down and wrapped his arms around Rebecca and pulled her into his lap.
Rebecca rested her head on his chest as she continued to sob. Charlie tried to say a few comforting words about how he didn't blame her for slapping him, but she didn't hear any of it, because she was listening to Charlie's heartbeat. There was something soothing and upsetting about listening to it.
Rebecca cried some more wondering how she would ever get the courage to tell Charlie what happened up in the Owlery when she knew it would break his heart.
As Rebecca pondered this, Charlie was trying to figure out what was really the matter with her.
'She shouldn't be crying for this long. I wonder if she got some other news that was bad. ... Maybe she got a letter saying she wasn't coming back!' Charlie's mind raced. He squeezed his arms around her tighter, terrified at the thought.
Rebecca didn't fidget out of his arms so Charlie was content to stay on the cold stone stairs with her in his arms. After a while he decided that even if he didn't want to let her go, they needed to get off the stairs and talk about what was really the matter with Rebecca.
"Becca," he whispered, but got no answer. "Becca?"
Charlie tip Rebecca's head back and saw that the emotional roller coaster of the day had taken its toll on her. She had fallen asleep listening to his heartbeat. Charlie let a sigh out and carried Rebecca back up to her dorm.
"Wish I knew what was really the matter," Charlie said as he laid her in her bed and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
The smile that appeared on Rebecca's face when he did this little familiar action gave Charlie some conciliation, so he left her to sleep feeling a slight better.
Upon walking out the door Rebecca looked down at the bottle in her hand. She had to admit for all that happened she was extremely glad that all she had to do was take a couple of pills.
She rounded the corner and almost ran into Ryan.
"Hey," Rebecca quietly said. She wasn't sure what the status of their friendship was, but she was hoping that another row wouldn't ensue for she didn't think that she could stand it.
"Rebecca," Ryan said as he took as step towards her. As he wrapped his arms around her he whispered in her ear, "I am so sorry. I don't know what I would have done if you got seriously hurt out there."
Rebecca hugged him back and Ryan continued to whisper, "I am so glad Charlie caught you when he did."
Rebecca jerked back from shock leaving Ryan wondering what was wrong.
"I am sorry. I just never heard you call him Charlie before."
"Oh," Ryan blushed slightly. "Well I guess that shows you how much I care. That one act has pretty much left me indebted to him."
"Why?" Rebecca asked confused on how Ryan saw himself fitting into the whole situation.
"Well I don't know what I would do if you had... had... had died. I mean if he hadn't of caught you, you would have fell 50 ft to the ground and I don't know whether anyone would have thought of a spell fast enough to save you from really getting hurt."
Rebecca smiled at her childhood best friend and said, "Come on let's take a walk."
"Really?"
"Yeah, let's go see what we can explore," Rebecca responded taking his arm and leading him towards a section of the castle she hadn't really been in before.
Ryan and Rebecca took off down the corridor and passed and intersection that Dan, Hans, and Same were walking down.
"Can you believe that Weasel deck Russel, even though he was going to let her out of the bet," Dan asked seeing Rebecca with Ryan.
"Yeah, poor guy," Hans said shaking his head. "He was really looking forward to winning that date and now he has to put up with the fact that he didn't win because of his talent, but because Weasley went after Rebecca. There is no way that he would enjoy a date with her if she could throw that in his face every time he turned around. He was willing to let her out of it and he gets a black eye."
"So he is going to go through with it still?" Sam questioned.
"Yeah, he said that he needed something to get back at Weasley for the black eye and he figured the kiss at the end of the date would drive the guy nuts. Too bad he doesn't have have good prospects of actually enjoying the date."
"Why don't we make it so that it is," Dan piped in.
"What?" the two boys asked in unison.
"We get Rebecca mad at Charlie and Russel picks up the pieces. We just need to get Charlie to attack Ryan."
"Why Ryan?" Hans asked.
"Because she won't take it. He is in good with her right now."
"Oh, we'll make Weasley appear to be a bully," Hans commented.
"Yep, we just need to get a good story, perhaps something with the bludgers. Akira and Harrison did a good job at making those bludgers appear to be betwitched they way that they kept going after her."
"Nice plan, but slight problem how do we get something that keeps Russel out of trouble."
"Yeah, Wesaley is going to go after him again," Sam chimed in.
"Oh, come on, we have been around Cassie enough that we should be able to make up a good dramatic story that makes Russel look good. Besides you're forgetting that Russel wasn't in the first bludger bewitching and we really aren't sure that Ryan didn't do it. You saw how upset he was. What ever we say will be very plausible because of all these facts..." Dan continued to talk and eventually Hans and Sam agreed to attempt to foment another row in between Rebecca and Charlie so that Russel can pick up the pieces and actually enjoy his date with Rebecca.
Charlie walked out of the common room worried that something was really wrong with Rebecca. What he didn't know was that Rebecca was out with Ryan trying to give him more time to cool down. She really didn't want to concentrate on what to say to keep him calm while she had a headache. From the little bit that she tried before she went to the infirmary, she could tell that it would only make her head hurt worse and she really didn't want to faint on Charlie. After all it might send him on to a tirade.
Charlie walked down the hall towards the infirmary he almost ran into Harvey, who was recruited by Dan, Hans, and Sam to find Charlie. Harvey ran off to dispense with his duties.
Charlie continued down not thinking about the incident. In fact he was really focused on where he was going until he heard Hans say something about the bludgers at the game.
"You know Ryan sent the bludger at her," Dan said off hand when he was walking across the intersection that Charlie was approaching.
"Yeah, never thought he would be that mad," Hans responded.
"What do you think he will do if Carter ever finds out?" Sam asked.
"Probably deny the whole thing. Of course that isn't the only thing he as done to her," Dan answered.
"What else did he do?"
"Well, he fed ideas to Russel, about how to 'win' her. You know like challenging Weasley with the bet and telling him about her weaknesses."
"Why would he do something like that?"
"Because he was ticked off with her from the get go and her being in a different house just amplified things. I think they were getting to a good point, but then another row and out came the bludger controlling spell," chimed in Hans.
Charlie over heard this and immediately saw red. He had never thought that Ryan would stoop to such a low level to get back at Rebecca. But then again, he was the one that had used it to try to get Charlie, so maybe he did.
In a flash, Charlie went to hunt down Malfoy and get some answers.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" Charlie shouted when he rounded the corner and found Ryan talking with Rebecca.
"CHARLIE!" screamed Rebecca as she watched Charlie walk right past her and slug Ryan right in the eye.
As Ryan fell to the ground from shock, Rebecca tried to rush to his side, but Charlie would not permit her to.
"WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?" shouted Rebecca as she finally pushed Charlie out of the way so that she could help Ryan up. "He was just telling me how glad he was that you caught me! And that your pride didn't get in the way of you saving my life!"
"He sent the bludger after you," Charlie replied back glaring at Ryan who had just gotten back to his feet.
Rebecca instantly dropped Ryan's arm and just stared at him.
"I didn't do it," Ryan quickly said knowing that she might actually believe what Charlie said even if it wasn't the truth.
"But you did it before," Rebecca almost whispered.
"But, I didn't..."
"Leave," Rebecca ordered.
She was torn on whether he was actually telling the truth or not. With what had happened to Cathrine when Ryan tried to get Charlie with the bludger and Ryan and her having a row earlier before the match, she just plain didn't know.
Ryan walked off to give her the space that she obviously need.
Rebecca stared as the Slytherin walked away. She was obviously was upset, so Charlie wrapped his arms around her in an attempt to comfort her.
Unfortunately, Charlie's actions did not go over well with Rebecca. She ended up elbowing him hard in the ribs. Charlie dropped his arms from around Rebecca and she tried to walk away from him, but couldn't get too far.
He grabbed her arm and held his ribs as he shouted, "What was that for?!"
"That was for not telling me about the bludger thing before you went off and hit Ryan." Rebecca hissed darkly staring into Charlie's eye.
As she tried to get loose from Charlie's grip, Charlie held Rebecca's arm tighter and said, "WAIT! You are mad at me because I gave the prat what he deserved."
"No I am anger because you decided to take care of it on your own without consulting me about it," Rebecca stopped struggling and gazed at Charlie defiantly. "What did you think that I would let Ryan go without as much as a peep from me?"
"No, but..."
"BUT WHAT? Your ego got in the way? You didn't think that I could take care of myself? NEW FLASH, I was fine before I was dating you."
"And you're not now?" Charlie hissed dropping Rebecca's arm. Rebecca stood silent for a moment, not sure what she wanted to say.
"Well?" Charlie questioned forcing her to answer.
"If you would let me stand up for myself you would know that I am fine," Rebecca started. "But no, you have to barge in acting all macho and treat me like this dainty little girl that can't do anything for herself. You're too proud..."
"I'm too proud?" Charlie cut her off. "Look who's talking. Little Miss..."
"Charlie, Rebecca, what is going on?" James said as he walked around the corner. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"Nothing," Rebecca said and turned to leave.
"Don't you dare walk away," Charlie sternly said a walking up to her and grabbing her arm.
CRACK!
Rebecca slapped Charlie right across the face trying to get her arm free from him.
Rebecca gasped. She couldn't believe what she had done. Both Charlie and James stood there in disbelief, as Rebecca started to back away with tears forming in her eyes.
She didn't wait for either of them to start saying anything. She just turned and dashed away.
Rebecca ran up to her dorm room and shut the curtains around her tears streaming down her face. Before she had a chance to bury her head into her pillow, she noticed a letter sitting on it. Quickly, she ripped it open and saw that it was from Stacy. With blurry eyes, Rebecca began to read the letter.
Dear Rebecca,
Hey Girl! How are you? Did you get caught up on sleep? I have been so worried about you, since your last letter. I was sorry to hear you and Charlie had been fighting, but I am glad to hear that you patched everything up. It sounded like you had a full plate with everything. Hopefully, everything is slowing down with the quidditch season coming to an end. Speaking of that, you have to let me know how the match went. I am hoping that this reaches you before it, so that you know that I wish you good luck, but the weather here has been so bad that I don't know whether any owls will be to keen on delivering the message until things blow over. Anyways, I better catch you up with what is going on with me since I haven't written in like forever I found it interesting that you mentioned that you knew Kalie's boyfriend when you did, because the issue came up. Ben and Whitney were starting to pick on her because of they said he was a figment of her imagination when she wouldn't let them read the letters that she had received from him. Kalie wasn't too happy about it, but let's face it, who would be. Well I didn't like what was going on so I stepped in and said that you had mentioned that you knew Adam and he talked about dating Kalie. Ben got mad at me for sticking up for her. I couldn't believe it. Of course things have gotten worse around here since you left and Ben and Sydney got together. Ben picks on people mercilessly and anyone that tries to stand up to him gets black listed, which is where I am at. I was ostracized from our so- called friends, because if they are too chicken to find out what will happen to them if they continued to associate with me. Ty actually broke up with me because of it. Of course I got the last laugh, because I didn't act upset or anything, which I wasn't because I really think he ought to be with Emily and just didn't get around to breaking up with him myself since I have been busy studying for OWLs. Well, he got upset because of my lack of emotion and that off course lead him to start a row that I won. Now, I know that I just painted a bleak picture of my social life, but don't worry. Kalie and I are becoming better friends because of it. I never really got why you liked her so much, but now I totally understand. She is so funny and when she describes herself as weird it cracks me up, because I am starting to see the little quirks that I have to that make me weird to other people. Anyways, I have been having a blast hanging out with her and she introduced me to Kerry. I don't know whether you knew her or not, but she is about 5'1" with shoulder length light blonde hair. Um, on the thin side of life and let me think... OH! You always noticed eyes. She has these deep blue eyes that make her stand out. Anyways, I'll send you a picture to help jog your memory. Kerry is great and has been another life saver to me. She is so cheerful that she as kept me up beat even when Colleen and Gwen were whispering behind my back. Oh well, I don't want to be one of them and hurt people's feeling so I am going to continue hanging out and talking with Kalie and Kerry. Maybe we can get together this summer with you and your other girlfriends and do something. Well I got to get going. GOOD LUCK WITH O.W.L.s!!!!!!!!
Later,
Stacy
Rebecca finished the letter and just stared at it. She couldn't imagine having to make all new friends the way Stacy was. Of course after slapping Charlie, whether on purpose or on accident, there was the possibility she might find herself in the same position.
'Of course, it is what I would deserve it,' Rebecca thought as she reread the part where Stacy announced that she was ostracized. 'Stacy was only sticking up for Kalie and look what happened. That is not right, people shouldn't be punished for helping people stand up to bullies.' Rebecca stopped for a moment. 'Charlie had been trying to help me out when I yelled at him. Of course he did just hull off and slug Ryan so he technically was the bully in it all. But then again, Charlie's anger stemmed from Ryan's supposed involvement with the bludger knocking her off. Of course, Ryan said he didn't do it. But he did get Cathrine when he was trying to get Charlie, so he might have gotten her inadvertently.' Rebecca's head was spinning. She couldn't make sense of anything. 'I got to write Stacy and see what she can make from the situation. Maybe even just putting the words down in writing might help me make sense of it all.'
Rebecca got up and grabbed a couple rolls of parchment and a bottle of ink. She closed her curtains back up and began to write.
Dear Stacy,
Just then Sara, Cathrine, and Jacquelyn entered the room and opened up her curtains.
"Can we talk to you?" Sara somberly asked.
Rebecca knew exactly what they wanted to talk about it.
"Can I get my thoughts straight on it first?"
"You slapped Charlie," Cathrine said giving Rebecca the straightest face she had ever seen on the prankster's face.
"I know," Rebecca started as she felt more tears start to form. She could feel herself start to hyperventilate as she quickly added, "I didn't mean to. It just happened. He had my elbow and as I turned to look at him, I tried to twist may arm to get free and I got him."
"You know he was just trying to protect you, right?" Jacquelyn questioned sort of harshly.
"I know, but..." Rebecca cried frustrated.
"Are you going to apologize to him?" Sara fired at her.
"Probably," Rebecca defensively responded as she picked up her quill, ink, and parchment. "I need..."
"When?" Cathrine demanded before Rebecca could say anything else.
"I don't know," Rebecca jumped off her bed. "I just need some time to get things straight in my head, first!"
She ran out of the room with her writing supplies leaving the other girls in the room shocked about her reaction to their questions.
After a moment the girls headed down the stairs soberly. The girls went and sat next to their boyfriends who were sitting by the fire. Charlie came and plunked into an empty chair with the group looking more upset than he was when the girls first went up to talk to Rebecca.
"What happened up stairs?" he asked soberly staring at the girls as he leaned forward from his chair.
Sara, Jacquelyn, and Cathrine looked at each other and then spilled out everything.
"I shouldn't have asked you to talk to her about it," Charlie mournfully said as he slumped back in the chair and rubbed his face where Rebecca slapped him. "Guys, this is a row between me and Rebecca. Please, don't stop talking to her because of this."
"But Charlie," Jacquelyn started to protest.
"But what? She slapped me, but she hasn't done that before. She won't do it again."
"She said it was an accident," Sara said quietly. Everyone looked at Charlie to see what he would say.
"If she said it was, it probably was."
"Are you going to go after her?" James asked.
"I think we need some time apart to get things before we try to get things resolved."
"Sounds like a good plan," Greg commented.
"Wonder where she ran to?" pondered Colin.
Rebecca ran up to the owlery. She knew there was a desk up there and was hoping that she could get her letter done and everything straight in her head, before any of her friends tried to talk to her again.
Rebecca ran faster trying to out run the thoughts in her head. When she hit the last set of steps to the owlery, she tripped and hit and fell forward on the steps. She managed to catch herself before she completely hit the steps, but her shins and knees still took a beating.
After hobbling up the rest of the stairs she opened the door and limped into the room.
As she headed to the desk, she heard a boy ask, "What happened to you?"
"Tripped on the steps," she answered in a monotone voice not looking up to see who was talking to her.
"Oh, you poor thing."
Rebecca rolled her eyes and started to work on the letter to Stacy telling her friend everything that had happened over the past week from her row with Ryan to the quidditch match, to the bet to the gash on her head to the walk with Ryan to the row with Charlie and then onto the other girls questioning her. She finished the letter with tears in her eyes since she was still as confused as she was before and as she folded the letter she couldn't help but sniffle slightly.
Rebecca tied the letter to one of the school owl that immediately took off. Rebecca stared out the window until the owl was out. She turned to leave and saw Russel standing there.
"You know if you were that shaken up by the bet," Russel started, but stopped because the look Rebecca's face told him that it had nothing to do with him or the bet. "Are you okay?"
Rebecca leaned up against the window jam and looked at Russel's face which had a nice shiner now.
"Did you do anything to provoke Charlie when he hit you?" she asked on most on the verge of tears.
Russel touched his back eye and said, "Well, yeah, I kind of had that goal in mind, but that was before I knew that you had been knocked out of the air. The guy deserves kudos for catching you and ignoring me going after the snitch. I mean no one has ever gotten either of us to put aside our rivalry, not even the teachers that have made the unfortunate mistake of pair us together. Never thought I would see the day where we would have agreed on the same thing."
Rebecca put her hand up to head and looked like she was really in pain.
"Are you okay?" Russel asked more concerned than he was before.
"I just have a headache. It's noth..."
Rebecca paused for a moment and stared at the boy.
The accusing manner in which she did this caused Russel to fidget slightly and said, "I didn't do it."
"But you cursed me before."
"Yes, I know I was horrible and cursed you and sent you to the infirmary. Then I won your trust with a truce and I shattered it by not telling you about the ring and the map. I admit that you have every right not to trust me, but I am telling you the truth and if you think back on all the times I tried the headache spell, I was muttering and I haven't muttered anything now."
Even though she didn't really want to believe him she couldn't help it. After all she had had the headache before she went to the infirmary and really it wasn't any worst at the moment as it was then.
"Your right," Rebecca sniffed.
"Rebecca," Russel said taking a step towards her as she started to cry. "Please talk to me. I know I don't deserve to be privelaged to knowing what is going on in your life, but you need someone to talk to. Please let me be your sounding board, just like I was at Christmas."
All of the sudden Rebecca went sheet white.
"Rebecca!" he cried as he grabbed her from falling.
Russel picked Rebecca up and moved over to the chair by the desk. He sat down and tried to revive her. Rebecca's head was tilted down so he couldn't tell if she was awake.
To tell the truth even though he loved just holding her, he was truly worried about her and just wanted a sign that she was okay, even if she jumped out of his arms. Finally he heard her sniff and felt her shake slightly from her silently cried.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he softly asked. Rebecca remained silent so he decided to try to get her to say something so he said, "You know, you never did answer my question."
"What question?" Rebecca whispered.
Russel was ecstatic that his plan worked so he soothingly asked, "So beautiful when will it be?"
"When will what be?" Rebecca asked trying to get Russel mad at her and leave her alone.
"Our date," Russel said as pleasantly as he could so that she might calm down. "I was thinking about a stroll around Hogsmeade and then maybe a candle light dinner up at..."
Russel stopped mid sentence when he noticed Rebecca was slightly laughing.
"What so funny?" he growled as he dropped his arms to his side.
"You think the date is going to happen this term," laughed Rebecca. "There are OWLs to study for."
"Okay, how about this summer? We'll go to London and have a night out on the town."
"Don't know where I will be this summer."
"Right, well then how about next year, first weekend at Hogsmeade, then?"
"Don't know whether I will be back. I haven't done everything yet."
There was this sad agonizing tone to her voice, almost as if now she didn't see the point to finishing up her tasks. Russel could stand it any more he instantly wrapped his arms around her again.
"Please talk to me. You'll feel better if you do. I know you will," Russel sincerely pleaded with her.
Rebecca let out a sigh and then found herself spilling her guts to him. She went on for a while and repeated somethings over and over. Russel tried his best to give her objective points of view and advice, but it was hard since it had to do with her dealing with Charlie. He found it was best just to let her ramble on by herself after a while. By the end she had gotten everything straight in her head and felt as though she could talk to Charlie in a civil manner now.
Rebecca had kept her head down all the time that she talked. Now she felt as though she need to look Russel in the face and thank him.
She moved her head to look up at him and said, "Thank you for listening..." Rebecca couldn't get the rest out because Russel's had been looking down at her and his lips hit hers when she looked up.
Rebecca almost instantly tried to back out of the kiss, but she was on his lap and couldn't just step back from it. Russel was in heaven and moved his hand to the back of her head to try to keep her there. Rebecca quickly turned away, and jumped out of his hold and ran out the door new tears streaming down his face.
Russel sat there for a moment really happy. He couldn't believe that he had actually gotten to kiss her. Yes it was only for second, but still she had kissed him.
Rebecca ran down the steps towards the Great Hall wanting everything about the day to be a dream. She was willing to actually fall off her broom and not get caught if it meant that the kiss didn't actually happen.
"Rebecca! What's the matter?"
Rebecca looked up to see Lennon and Jenna standing in front of her on the landing. Being a bit startled, Rebecca slipped and fell backwards on the steps causing herself to sit on the stairs.
She just sat there and started to really cry. It wasn't just few tears that just happened to escape it this time. Every tear that her eyes decided to produce was free to flow down her face.
As the two Ravenclaw girls rushed up to try to comfort her and find out what was causing all the tears, but Rebecca's sobs were too overpowering for them to believe she could actually hear anything they said.
The girls finally relented on asking questions and just sat there with the Gryffindor and patted her back. Both were secretly hoping that Rebecca would calm down enough to at least fill them in on what was going on.
"What's the matter, Becca?" Bill asked after rounding the corner and seeing Rebecca sitting on the steps with her head on her knees and Jenna and Lennon trying to console her.
"Don't know," Lennon responded "She came down the steps and had tears running down her face and when we asked her what was wrong she just sat down and cried harder."
"Do you have any clue what might have happened?" Jenna asked the head boy.
"Charlie and her got into a pretty big row," Bill whispered hoping Rebecca couldn't hear him, but Rebecca did hear him.
She started to sob harder, not because she thought of the row earlier that day, but because of the row that would ensue from her kissing Russel.
'How am I going to convince him that it was an accident?' was all she could think.
Bill understandably misinterpreted the crescendo of tears and soothingly said, "Oh, Becca, don't cry. Charlie isn't mad at you for slapping him. He understands that he should have talked to you first, but he was more worried about your safety. You didn't know that Ryan had sent the bludgers after you during the games, so when Charlie hit him it was a huge shock. He knows that you wouldn't have done it if you knew everything and wants to talk to you about it when you are ready to."
Rebecca didn't look up, but managed to regain some more control over her tears.
"There that is better," Bill soothingly continued. "Come on let's go and talk to Charlie. You'll feel better about everything after you do and you know everything that he heard about the bludger situtaion."
"The bludger situation?"
Ryan had just walked around the corner in search of Russel. Bill turned around and saw Ryan standing there with a fresh shiner.
"Yeah, the bludger situation, Malfoy," Bill coolly responded as he stared accusingly at the Slytherin.
"I didn't do it, Weasel," Ryan hissed.
Ryan's plead of innocent went on deaf ears. Jenna and Lennon had heard enough from Bill trying to calm down Rebecca that they believed Charlie had the right idea.
"Rebecca, come on you know me. I don't want to see you hurt. I am sorry that you got knocked off of the broom, but you got to believe me, I did not do it!"
Rebecca didn't even stir. She couldn't understand why Charlie would accuse him of doing such a thing if he didn't have proof that Ryan had at least a hand in it.
"Please, I am sorry about it, but I didn't do it."
Ryan tried to take a step towards Rebecca to get her to look at him, but Bill stepped in his way.
"I didn't do it!"
"Then why do you keep apologizing for it?" Lennon finally asked.
She just couldn't understand why he was being so insistent that he wasn't a part of the situation when he kept saying he was sorry for it. Ryan turned towards Lennon and saw her face of stone staring back at him.
"Because I am sorry she had to go through it," Ryan slowly started. "I am sorry everyone had to watch it happen in the stadium. I am sure that everyone had a couple years taken off of their lives because of it. I don't ever want to see her hurt so I am sorry when it happens or when it comes close to happening even if I have nothing to do with it."
Lennon looked into Ryan's steely grey eyes and her face softened.
"You really didn't do it, did you?" she whispered.
"No, I didn't," Ryan softly replied. He was happy that he found one person to listen to him finally.
CLAP... CLAP... CLAP...
Ryan and Lennon turned to see Bill clapping slowly.
"Nice acting, Malfoy," Bill said after he stopped clapping.
"What?" Lennon questioned wondering what was going through her boyfriend's head.
"Oh, please," Bill relied. "Don't tell me you actually believe he is telling the truth, Len?"
"Yes, I do," Lennon defiantly.
"Than tell me why his cronies were having a conversation about how he did it."
"My cronies?" Ryan questioned.
"Yeah, Charlie was walking in the hall when he heard them discussing you sending the bludgers after Becca."
Rebecca's head instantly popped up. She knew there had to have something for Charlie to off. She looked at Ryan in a manner that did not accuse him of actually doing anything, but more or less said, 'they did it, but was it the truth?'
Ryan turned around quickly and left the scene, determined to get proof that he was innocent.
"See, Len, he did it!" Bill told Lennon while pointing at the back of Ryan. "Why else would he leave?"
"MAYBE, he wanted to find out why his cronies were spreading a rumor that he had done it!" Lennon fired back.
She had said it loud enough that Ryan could hear it while he rounded the corner on his search for Hans, Dan, Sam, and the answer to the questions that was running through his head.
'Always did like McCartney. Wonder what she is doing with a loser like Weasely?' he thought as he got out of ear shot.
Jenna and Rebecca remained where they were though they both wished they could shrink away. Bill and Lennon were really getting into it.
"Why are you making up excuses for the creep when all the evidence points to him?" Bill demanded.
"I looked into his eye and there wasn't a hint that said he was lying," Lennon retorted.
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah, do you have a problem with that?"
"Yes, I do. The guy went after my brother with bewitched bludgers and got Cathrine in the process. He has proven that when he wants to get some one he doesn't care what means he uses to get them."
"Oh so you're saying he is a bad guy then?"
"In this case," Bill said. He knew that Rebecca had grown up with Ryan and she wouldn't have been friends with him if there wasn't some good in him.
"Well, he isn't!"
"Len, quit being stubborn and face the facts!"
"I have and what I see is a guy who is getting persecuted BY YOU for something he didn't do!"
Bill didn't respond and Lennon didn't bother to continue. They both just stared at each other.
Jenna and Rebecca looked back and forth between the two wondering what was going to happen next.
Before anyone said another word Charlie's voice came down the hall.
"We have to find her. She has been gone too long?"
Charlie came around the corner with Greg, James, and Colin and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Bill and Lennon intensely looking at each other.
As he surveyed the scene he saw the look of concern on Rebecca's and Jenna's face.
"What's going on?" he asked as he and his friends approached.
"Lennon, here, is being naive in thinking that Ryan is innocent, even though everything from what you heard to his action just now, says he isn't," Bill replied still staring at Lennon.
She didn't respond to his comment, but her eyes narrowed and she let out a huff.
Charlie was preparing what to say to get the situation calmed down when Ryan who was looking furious came into view with Hans, Dan and Sam. Adam, Kurt, Audrey, and Kevin were behind the four Slytherins with very curious expressions.
The four Ravenclaws came over and took a seat next to Rebecca and Jenna as Ryan ordered, "You tell them exactly what you told me."
Hans, Dan, and Sam looked at each other and then with a little more prodding from Ryan Dan stepped up and said, "We made up the story about the bludgers being bewitched to get Carter."
"Why?" Charlie said through gritted teeth.
"So that you and Carter would get in a fight," Dan hissed back.
"Malfoy, your friends are incorrigible," Bill commented looking nearly as anger as his brother.
"Why you little prats," Kurt said as he got up from beside Jenna and walked over to be with Greg, James, and Colin. Kevin and Adam got up too and glaring at the three Slytherins stood beside the Gryffindors.
The three Slytherins didn't seem too worried until Ryan step through them and as he walked to be with the Ravenclaws and the Gryffindors commented, "I don't know why you ever thought it would be a good idea."
"Hey what's going on?" came a voice over group.
Everyone turned up to see Russel who was still smiling from the kiss coming down the steps. Rebecca shuttered and turned back to the larger group as Ryan explained about the rumor.
"Why did you guys want to start a fight between those two?" Russel snarled upset that it was his friends that had caused Rebecca so much suffering this time round.
"So that you could have a good time on your date with Carter," responded Sam timidly.
Well that was the end of what could be called the peace of the discussion, because Russel exploded and yelled, "WHO ASKED YOU TO DO THAT? I SURE DIDN'T!"
As Russel continued ripping into the three boys, Ryan started with, "HOW DARE YOU MAKE UP SOMETHING ABOUT ME!"
Charlie of course had a few choice words to say so he joined in to the yelling.
The other fifth year boys kept their mouths closed but everyone could tell that they were ready to jump in if a physical fight started even if they had no intent on stopping anything.
Bill, on the other hand, probably would have told the three lying Slytherins off, but Lennon had commented, "See I was right, he didn't do it. Still think that I am a bad judge of character!"
"I never said that you were a bad judge of character!" Bill told her back.
"You called me naïve that sounds like that was what you were insinuating!"
"Well, you were acting that way, so if that what it means to you that must have been what you were!"
As those two's side spat continued, Audrey, Jenna, and Rebecca sat on the steps at the big confrontation. None of them knew what to do to stop it. The sound of the huge row was more than Rebecca's head could take. She got up the steps to get away from it all.
"Are you okay?" Audrey asked when Rebecca started to get up.
"I have a headache," was all Rebecca answered.
She moved past the boys and farther down the hall back towards the Gryffindor tower. She didn't make it much farther when she felt like her head was going to split open.
"Oh!" Rebecca gasped and then fell to the floor.
"BECCA!" Jenna cried over the yelling that was going on as she and Audrey rushed to her.
Adam had noticed Rebecca walk past looking pale and was already by her side. Charlie had stopped yelling as did the others when they hear Jenna. Adam flipped Rebecca over and started to try to revive her as Charlie rushed to her side.
Audrey and Jenna instantly jumped up knowing that if they didn't they were going to get knocked out of the way. They were right, because Charlie dropped down to Rebecca's side and relieved Adam of his duty to wake up Rebecca. It took a minute, but Charlie managed to get Rebecca revived.
She blinked several time before every thing came into focus and she saw, Ryan, Russel and Charlie peering over all with the same concerned/relieved look in their face. Rebecca laid there for a moment until she remembered what had happened up in the owlery.
With in a second of her realization, Rebecca was up from the ground and out from the group that surrounded her. She dashed around the corner hoping that she could get away from everyone.
However she was wrong, Charlie chased after her.
Rebecca was about to the stairs that lead to the Gryffindor tower when Charlie caught up with her.
"Becca, please stop," Charlie said to her as he wrapped his arm around her waist.
He had a feeling that she would stop running if he did so. He let out a sigh of relief when Rebecca proved him right, because she instantly stopped.
"Becca, why did you run off from everyone?" Charlie whispered in her ear. "We were all so worried about you."
Rebecca didn't hear the last bit of what he said, because she was thinking about why.
'I kissed Russel,' Rebecca thought as she sat down and started to cry again. Like Bill, Charlie misread his girl's tears to mean that she was upset that she got so mad at him for going off and punching Ryan after he heard the fake story. He sat down and wrapped his arms around Rebecca and pulled her into his lap.
Rebecca rested her head on his chest as she continued to sob. Charlie tried to say a few comforting words about how he didn't blame her for slapping him, but she didn't hear any of it, because she was listening to Charlie's heartbeat. There was something soothing and upsetting about listening to it.
Rebecca cried some more wondering how she would ever get the courage to tell Charlie what happened up in the Owlery when she knew it would break his heart.
As Rebecca pondered this, Charlie was trying to figure out what was really the matter with her.
'She shouldn't be crying for this long. I wonder if she got some other news that was bad. ... Maybe she got a letter saying she wasn't coming back!' Charlie's mind raced. He squeezed his arms around her tighter, terrified at the thought.
Rebecca didn't fidget out of his arms so Charlie was content to stay on the cold stone stairs with her in his arms. After a while he decided that even if he didn't want to let her go, they needed to get off the stairs and talk about what was really the matter with Rebecca.
"Becca," he whispered, but got no answer. "Becca?"
Charlie tip Rebecca's head back and saw that the emotional roller coaster of the day had taken its toll on her. She had fallen asleep listening to his heartbeat. Charlie let a sigh out and carried Rebecca back up to her dorm.
"Wish I knew what was really the matter," Charlie said as he laid her in her bed and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
The smile that appeared on Rebecca's face when he did this little familiar action gave Charlie some conciliation, so he left her to sleep feeling a slight better.