~*Every Other Time*~
Chapter Five: Stumbling In
Dove: Oh… dear. Lots of Quidditch, lots more plotting, and many minor character SHIPs abound. Pansy in her death spike pink heels make an appearance, and Emma talks to much effect! And of course, the D/G thickens to a molasses-type quality. And this starts to look more like a D/G fic than a W/S, but I swear that will change!!! And anyway, who doesn't love D/G?
Thalia: Yes, they (being our characters) are evil. We realize this. After all, we are evil. Slytherin cunning and Ravenclaw wisdom. A formidable combination. I feel sorry for their victims. Not really.
Disclaimer: We own the AU Evil Potterverse. Bwha.
"Pulled in every direction,
Have a million regrets,
And you're the perfect protection,
When I'm down in over my head
In the middle of it all
You always break my fall,
In the middle of it all
Over and over, again and again
You come through the door without stumbling in,
I'm twisted and tangled and soaked to the skin,
You come through the door without stumbling in, again…"
-Great Big Sea, "Stumbling In"
A small girl, looking somewhat out of place and yet quite oddly comfortable with herself, sat in the stands of the Quidditch pitch, a spot of sapphire in a sea of green. Ravenclaw third-year Calista, rather than sitting with her cheering housemates (for the game was Ravenclaw against Gryffindor), sat amongst the Slytherins, next to Blaise Zabini.
The latter had been roped into wearing a blue rosette on his robes, in support of Calista's house, and the Ravenclaw girl herself was currently occupied in tying a bright blue ribbon in his hair, to his somewhat disgruntled tolerance.
"Nice look on you, Zabini," Warrington, sitting a few seats off, smirked at the younger Slytherin. "Perhaps you should borrow one of Susannah's skirts to go with it."
"No." Blaise and Susannah both gave Warrington dirty looks and negated the suggestion at the same time.
"Why not, pray?" Warrington raised an eyebrow, almost the picture of perfectly diabolical Slytherin innocence.
"Because he doesn't have the posterior for it," Susannah replied immediately, inciting a slight snort from Montague, who sat at her side.
Calista rolled her eyes slightly, then cheered as Su put a goal past Ron, lessening Gryffindor's lead slightly. As Lee Jordan yelled out "And newcomer Li, with a rather neat reverse throw, scores! 70:40, Gryffindor!" Calista turned to look at Warrington expectantly.
It took the Head Boy a few seconds to notice the small girl gazing at him. Raising an eyebrow, he asked her what was the matter.
"Well, aren't you going to cheer? Or are you rooting for the Gryffindors?"
"The day I cheer for the Gryffindors is the day that the moon will crash into the sun," Warrington replied. "You mustn't forget that it is one of my main goals this year to drive the Head Girl batty. But why am I to cheer for the Ravenclaws? Can't I just... not cheer and probe both teams for weaknesses?"
Calista's eyes were wide, "But I had thought that you and Su had become friends or something."
Now the Slytherins were all looking at Warrington. Montague's eyebrows were raised questioningly.
"Well. If postponing mutual murder for the time being until we've finished wreaking havoc on the school counts as friendship... sure. But... 'become friends or something'... I think I'll go with the 'or something'."
"Well. As long as you don't think that she'll throw a Quaffle at your head or something randomly during the game," Calista replied. "I am sitting close to you, after all, and if I duck, I might dislodge the rosette on Blaise's shirt."
Warrington gave a snort, "In the unlikely event that she did, I am a Chaser. And so is your devoted, whipped boyfriend."
"Am not whipped," Blaise muttered.
"Say that when you don't have a bow in your hair, Zabini," Warrington replied complacently. "You might be slightly more convincing."
"Watch the game, Warrington," Blaise said, trying to keep his face dignified. "Just watch the bloody game."
The bloody game was certainly entertaining, if nothing else. It seemed that Terry Boot of the Ravenclaw team had managed to implant a bludger quite neatly in Harry Potter's shoulder. The Gryffindor Seeker was still flying, amidst cheers from the Ravenclaw section and Angelina Johnson screaming at the top of her lungs at Fred and George for not watching the bludgers, but nonetheless, Harry's face was positively pinched with concentration.
"Nice go, Terry," Calista remarked with a smile.
"Almost worthy of a Slytherin play," Blaise said loyally.
Calista grinned up at him. "No. He didn't cheat."
Warrington gave her a mild look. "That was uncalled for."
"Try the intimidation tactics on someone else," she said breezily. "Terrifying as you might be, it just… isn't terrifying me." She grinned. "Besides, it's true, some of the time. Especially under Flint. I haven't seen Slytherin play your way yet, so I don't know-oh, look!"
On the field, Angelina, Alicia and Katie, looking determined and rather frightening had formed a perfect Hawkshead Attacking Formation and were barreling down the field with the Quaffle. "100:30, Gryffindor!" called out Lee Jordan's very satisfied voice a moment later, as Keeper Alan Wellesley missed the save . "That's the way to get them, ladies! And… Chang is diving! Potter is behind her, but he's got a weak grip on his broom-might be that bludger-and… are they going to pull out of that dive… it's…"
Both Seekers seemed to realize they were neck-in-neck just then. A foot or so above the ground, Cho tried to pull up, got her broom tip caught on Harry's robes, and both of them went crashing to the ground, the golden sparkle of the Snitch lost somewhere under them.
"And they both go down!" Lee Jordan howled. "The nurse is rushing onto the field, along with… yes, the headmaster and Professor Flitwick… are they all right, professors? Oh, look, Potter's sitting up, rubbing his head, but nothing's broken this time, way to go Harry! And now Chang is scrambling up…"
Cho got to her feet and, smiling sunnily, raised her hand into the air. Something sparkled. "I have it!" she called out brightly.
The stadium exploded in cheers as Cho reached down a hand to help Harry up. He took it, winced at the pain in his shoulder, but smiled genuinely at her. "The game goes to Ravenclaw, 180:100!" Lee called out as the teams landed.
Up in the stands, Calista was jumping up and down and cheering at the top of her lungs. The Slytherins around her were clapping politely. "Not a bad game," Susannah said grudgingly. "Their Keeper's decent, but your Chasers are quite passable. Li is rather talented." She smirked at Warrington. "You should go down and congratulate her, Cassius. I think she's signaling you."
And indeed, down on the field, Su was making a beckoning sort of motion towards the Slytherin stands. She made it nice and exaggerated so that those up in the stands were sure to see her. "Stupid little girl," Warrington groaned.
"You're not actually going to… go when a girl waves her hand, are you?" Benedick asked, his voice surprised.
"He will if he knows what's good for him," Calista said with a giggle.
Warrington glared at Blaise. "Keep the Ravenclaw under control, will you? Next thing you know, half the school thinks I'm a nice guy." He turned around and went down the stairs. He had been planning on hunting her up after the game, anyway. Why did the little bint have to signal at him for all the school to see?
"Your secrecy seriously needs work," he told her when he circled around behind the dressing rooms to find her, still blue-clad, lounging against the wall.
"Not at all," she disagreed. "I just wanted to embarrass you. Did it work?"
"The only person who looked ridiculous was you, kid," he said lightly, ruffling her blonde hair, knowing it would bother her. "What did you want?"
"Tutoring tonight," she said lightly. "Get Malfoy to stay for Charms, will you?"
"Why is that?" Warrington asked, curiously.
"Because," she said cheerfully. "I said so."
***
Later that evening, before tutoring sessions were to begin, Warrington took Draco Malfoy aside, a perfect poker face in place.
"Malfoy, a word." The voice was stern. Almost incongruously so. But the blond skulked over to the seventh year with a scowl.
"What?"
"There's a little... issue. With tutoring sessions," Warrington replied, his authoritative face not betraying any sign of the evil plots teeming in his brain.
"Okay! Fine! I'll stop asking to use Longbottom's bloody toad as the test subject for the potions!" Draco threw his hands into the air.
"Wasn't going to mention that," Warrington said mildly, "but since you promised, might as well. Anyway... could you for the love of all females redheaded please clean up after the session is over? Last time in my session, Emma Dobbs found spilled flobberworm mucus all over the tabletop."
The aforementioned girl, scowling over the edge of her parchment, seemed to corroborate this story, and Draco groaned. "Doesn't Branstone clean?"
"Well, her side of the room is rather clean, come to think of it..." Warrington said thoughtfully, "but. Yours should be, too. Stay after a bit and do it." The last was spoken evenly, but in a tone that brooked no arguments.
"I'm not a bloody house-elf!" Draco glared at him, "The twits should clean up after themselves!"
"Then you should stay behind and make sure they do so rather than dash out in hopes of seeing the girl Weasel in the hallway so you can ogle her covertly whilst insulting her family," Warrington replied easily.
"I DO NOT OGLE HER!!!" Draco's voice was loud and furious.
"Yes you do," Emma Dobbs sniggered slightly. "From what I've heard, Millicent Bulstrode is quite angry about it. She might burst a blood vessel. Unless she succeeds in plotting to poison Weasley or something."
"She wouldn't dare," Draco snapped, before realizing what he'd just said and clapping a pale hand to his face.
"You know, this is fun," Emma remarked to no one in particular.
"YOU STAY OUT OF IT!" Draco glared at her.
"You figure out your life, hopefully soon," the younger girl replied simply. "At this rate, you already can't scare the younger Slytherins any more. If this continues, you won't even be able to scare the Hufflepuffs. Then where would we be?"
Warrington smirked at Emma, who gave an almost imperceptible nod before turning back to her Transfiguration. "Well, Malfoy... until we'd gone off on the fascinating tangent of your infatuation with the little redhead, there was that little matter of you staying after and making sure that things were cleaned up and in order after your tutoring session."
"Fine! I'll stay. For FIVE MINUTES."
The Head Boy sniggered to himself as he strode out. "Oh, you'll be staying for more than that," he muttered under his breath. "How silly of me. I forgot to tell you."
***
Draco was in a decidedly ill mood during his tutoring session, although this wasn't anything new. Angela Branstone, besides giving him a few reproachful looks as she gently explained to Neville Longbottom the correct way to stir the wit-sharpening Potion she was helping him brew, said nothing. Zach had told her that her unruly fellow tutor would "soon be made to behave".
Hufflepuff faith and optimism kept her serene.
Meanwhile, out in the hallway, unbeknownst to them, Emma Dobbs, arms crossed over her chest, was rolling her eyes slightly as she glanced down the hall, waiting. Seamus Finnigan stood a few paces away, apparently not sure whether or not to converse with the younger Slytherin.
Finally, Seamus spoke, "Bloody bad luck that Ravenclaw won. Had a bet with Li... I'm not going to stick around for tutoring, then. Test tomorrow, though."
"Oh," Emma's voice was indifferent, "how utterly tragic. I'm not staying either. Warrington said that what they were going to cover isn't something that my class was learning."
"Then what're you doing here?"
"Waiting for Pansy. She had some hair appointment or another, but she said she'd be around later. What're you doing here? Don't Gryffs always have places to go, people to save, and all that?"
"Don't Slythies always hex first, and ask later, when it comes to us?" Seamus retorted.
"No, the hotheaded acting without thinking is your thing," Emma replied. "But if you want to be hexed, I'm sure it can be arranged. What sort of hex are you in the mood for, strange growths on your body or oddity in movement? Perhaps some sort of mental incapacity?"
"How considerate of you to ask me first," Seamus glared somewhat at her. She didn't seem phased.
"Almost all Slytherins have impeccable breeding," Emma informed him coolly. "Hmm... Pansy's five minutes late. Potions is almost out."
At that moment, just as Neville Longbottom, clutching his Potions text in one hand, and his cleaned cauldron in the other, walked out of the classroom with a pale face, the unmistakable sound of high heels clicking on uncarpeted floor reached Emma's ears. "Ah, she's here. I'll have to hex you some other day, after you've made up your mind what you want it to be."
As Pansy, her hands full of parcels (evidently having gone shopping as well as getting her hair curled), caught sight of Neville, she smirked slightly. "Come here, boy."
Neville, thinking she must be referring to someone else, ignored it until the sound of an impatient throat clearing behind him caused him to cringe and turn around. "Er.. me?"
"Well certainly not the Irish git," Pansy said bossily. "Hold this for me." She held out a hatbox.
Emma sniggered lightly as Neville, unsure of what he was doing but ever obedient and willing to please, did so, looking somewhat silly with a hot pink hatbox balanced on top of a black cauldron.
Pansy, hands now somewhat free, took out a compact mirror and checked her makeup, taking time to apply a new coat of lipstick. Seamus was glaring at her, both for ordering around his roommate and for gratuitously insulting himself.
"Oh, are you sad that Pansy isn't making you carry her clothing?" Emma snickered slightly, "I'll make sure to take you on some shopping excursion and make up for it."
Seamus made a half-snort, half-growl, and walked off, sandy blond head disappearing down the hallway. Emma shrugged, and turned back to Pansy. "Well, as handy as he might be, we probably shouldn't take him to the common room."
"Not now, at any rate," Pansy agreed, taking her box back from Neville. "Off with you, then. Perhaps some other time," she said genially to Neville.
The Gryffindor boy made a mental note to avoid the scary girl with the death-by-pink-spike shoes in the future, and took off.
When Cassius Warrington and Su Li arrived at the door, the hallway was empty except for an unmistakable head of long red hair moving towards them, and when Warrington peered through the door, he smirked in satisfaction.
"He's almost done cleaning. Good. He doesn't even have multicoloured sludge all over him."
"My planning is impeccable," Su informed him pertly.
"You sound rather smug and egotistical, just so you know," Warrington sniggered slightly. "Careful... people might come to conclusions that you've been associating with me too much."
"I am associating with you too much, but that's beside the point," she replied. "Hello, Ginny. How are you this evening?"
"Passable," Ginny said, slowing down. "Good game, Ravenclaw," she said. "Ron says you're harder than hell to block."
"Thank him for the compliment for me, then," Su said. "He's a good Keeper. I love a challenge." She smiled. "Ready to work harder than you have yet?"
Ginny stopped and looked at the two of them, wondering. It didn't seem so different from the way they usually were, demure Su and amused Warrington, but somehow, they seemed… unified. She wasn't sure why, but she was rather frightened. "Will it be that bad tonight?" she asked, trying for an easy smile.
"You will very likely hate us before it's over," Su said just as easily. "And wish you could run and lock yourself in your dormitory."
"Charms is hard, but it isn't that bad," Ginny said. "Well, I'll just go put my things down, then." She walked into the room.
"Whoever said it was Charms?" Su giggled under her breath. She pointed her wand at the door. A flash of blue light flew to the keyhole. Moments later there was a scream inside and the sound of something heavy falling to the ground. It seemed Ginny had tripped over something.
"YOU!!! Who the hell let you in here?" Or someone.
"I'm a school prefect and, in case you haven't noticed, I'm cleaning up after my tutoring session, so bugger off." Malfoy sounded royally ticked.
"While the sight of you on your knees and scrubbing is endearing," came Ginny's venomous voice, "get the hell out of my tutoring session and go kick puppies or sacrifice virgins or whatever else it is you do with your free time. And don't look at me like that!"
"So get to being tutored and get the bloody hell away from me, Weaslette," he snarled.
Standing by the door, Su gave a little giggle. "Right… about…"
"Well, clearly, my tutors aren't here yet, and none of my fellow students seem to be around, do they, unless they have Invisibility Cloaks?" There was a crash as she angrily tossed her books on the table. "So right now, it's just you and-"
"Now," Su said smugly.
"Oh no. Oh no no no no no." There was the sound of frantic running, and then pulling on the securely locked door. A low moan came when she realized it wasn't moving. "They wouldn't have! Oh, I'll kill them! DAMN IT!"
Malfoy's voice showed his temper was on edge. "Are you telling me they locked us in here? You and me? Locked in here? Together? Is that what you're trying to tell me!?"
There was an angry stomp. Su, still standing by the door, was now giggling into cupped hands. She would have given just about anything to see this. "No, Mal-ferret, I'm just trying to scare you shitless! Yes, that is what I'm telling you!"
Malfoy approached the door. "Move it, Weaslette," he said angrily. "Out of my way! Stupid little girl, can't think on your feet at all." A moment, then, "Alohomora!"
The door stayed closed.
"Oh yes, what a wonderful exhibition," Ginny cried. "I'm sure sad I didn't think to make myself look like an absolute idiot! They'll have locked it so we can't get out. They're the Charms tutors."
"I almost wish Longbottom was in here," Draco muttered, his voice promising nothing good when he got out again. "He can melt cauldrons, he'd be able to melt locks..."
There was a thump. The door vibrated.
"And charging the bloody door won't help you," Ginny continued, near hysterics now. "And don't even bother calling for help-there will be a Silencing Charm on this room-"
"Not yet, there isn't," Su whispered under her breath, rather flattered that Ginny thought so much of her abilities after all.
"Weaslette." There was a rustle-Malfoy was clearly getting up from his failed rushing of the door. "Who. The bloody. Hell. Are 'they'?"
"Warrington and Li," came Ginny's dispirited voice. Clearly, she was falling into a belated state of shock. "Damn their black souls to eternal damnation."
"Silencio," Su whispered, and the sounds vanished, as though there had been a radio behind the door that had just been switched off. "There, all finished," she said putting away her wand. "I'll just let them out after prefect rounds in a few hours, shall I? I suppose you'll cover for Malfoy's absence?"
"How cultured, Li, locking them in a room together," Warrington said with a chuckle.
"The tried and true method first," Su said staunchly. "Then, if it doesn't work, we try something else. Besides, this way, we're sure to get one thing or another out of it. A murder isn't quite the result we're looking for, but it would liven things up considerably. Moreover, I had to make damn sure we won today's game, or it wouldn't have worked. I've a notion Finnegan might fancy her." She smiled, and looked curiously towards the door. "I rather do wonder what's going on in there."
"I'll get it out of Malfoy at some point," Warrington said absently.
"Why thank you," Su said. "That's terribly gracious."
"Who said I would tell you?"
