Chapter 20: Christmastime—Part 2
A/N: I've decided to leave the "big surprise" for either chapter 23 or 24. Haha, keepin' ya hangin'. … I'm such a loser. (Shut UP, Rita!) Anyway, the first part of this chapter was partially inspired by my friend Lauren. Thanks, girlfriend!!!!! *said in a total valley-girl, "Clueless" voice (no offense to the Beverly Hills people reading this!)*
Melissa burst into the Gryffindor common room, face red from the cold, broom in hand. She glanced around the room and spotted Harry, Ron, Dean, and Seamus playing wizard's chess in a corner. Hermione was curled up in a nearby armchair, watching the games and reading the usually (A/N: Rita- really, really ridiculously!) thick book. Melissa grinned and headed over there.
"Hey, you guys," she greeted, plopping down next to Dean.
"Hey," Ron replied as he captured Harry's knight with his rook.
"Oh, shut up!" Harry exclaimed crossly. Startled, Melissa glanced at him. He was scowling at his pieces in fury while they shouted obscenely at him.
"Idiots," Hermione muttered, rolling her eyes. She noticed Melissa rubbing her hands together to try and create warmth. The brunette conjured up a steaming mug of hot chocolate, which she handed to her shivering friend. Melissa shot her a grateful look as she carefully sipped the steaming liquid.
"So, Mel, where have you been all afternoon?" Hermione asked. "We were looking for you."
Melissa took another sip as she deliberated what to say. Flying with Malfoy…talking with Malfoy…laughing with Malfoy… Maybe she should just leave Malfoy out.
"Um…you know. Around," she replied vaguely. Hermione's eyes narrowed, but she didn't say anything. Melissa felt a funny twist in her stomach. Why was she lying to her best friends?
/\What are you lying about? /\ A voice asked. Melissa's head snapped up.
\/Harry? \/ She said tentatively.
/\Duh, who else would it be? The Boogey wizard? /\ Harry responded incredulously.
\/Shut up.\/ Melissa's ordered lamely. A moment later…
/\Well? What are you lying about? /\
\/Harry, please, just let it go. Leave it alone. \/ Melissa requested, shifting uncomfortably.
"Melissa, why—"
"Harry, just leave it alone!" Melissa exploded. She leapt up and slammed her cup down onto the scarlet carpet, staining it dark brown. She ran into people as she raced from the room, grabbing her broomstick along the way.
Harry, Dean, Ron, Hermione, and Seamus sat there in stunned silence for several minutes.
"What's got her panties in a twist?" Seamus wondered, breaking the silence.
"SEAMUS!!!!!!!"
……………………
"What?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Once again, Melissa was headed towards the Quidditch pitch. After ten minutes of furious running, she slowed to a walk, breathing heavily. She turned into the stadium and walked up into the stands, only to meet the last person in the world she wanted to see.
"Malfoy!"
Draco Malfoy turned to her with a crooked sort of smile on his face.
"Hello, again," he greeted softly.
"What on earth are you doing here?" Melissa demanded once she got over her shock.
"Dumbledore wanted me to come out here and make sure there wasn't any sixth- years," Malfoy replied, looking out over the pitch. "I walked back out here and was about half-way done my search when, lo and behold, I found…you."
"Why did Dumbledore want you to come and look for any sixth-years?" Melissa asked suspiciously. Malfoy shrugged.
"I don't know," he answered honestly. "All he said was that he, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Snape have an announcement to make. Let's go."
Melissa watched him closely for a moment before relenting.
"Fine."
Once again, the two opposites were heading side-by-side up to the school.
A/N: Yeah, okay, that chapter sucked. You guys have my official permission to tell me that on this chapter, and this chapter only. Email me at BGer_Girl731@yahoo.com or tell me in your review what you think and if you have any suggestions. Thanks!
Katie
A/N: I've decided to leave the "big surprise" for either chapter 23 or 24. Haha, keepin' ya hangin'. … I'm such a loser. (Shut UP, Rita!) Anyway, the first part of this chapter was partially inspired by my friend Lauren. Thanks, girlfriend!!!!! *said in a total valley-girl, "Clueless" voice (no offense to the Beverly Hills people reading this!)*
Melissa burst into the Gryffindor common room, face red from the cold, broom in hand. She glanced around the room and spotted Harry, Ron, Dean, and Seamus playing wizard's chess in a corner. Hermione was curled up in a nearby armchair, watching the games and reading the usually (A/N: Rita- really, really ridiculously!) thick book. Melissa grinned and headed over there.
"Hey, you guys," she greeted, plopping down next to Dean.
"Hey," Ron replied as he captured Harry's knight with his rook.
"Oh, shut up!" Harry exclaimed crossly. Startled, Melissa glanced at him. He was scowling at his pieces in fury while they shouted obscenely at him.
"Idiots," Hermione muttered, rolling her eyes. She noticed Melissa rubbing her hands together to try and create warmth. The brunette conjured up a steaming mug of hot chocolate, which she handed to her shivering friend. Melissa shot her a grateful look as she carefully sipped the steaming liquid.
"So, Mel, where have you been all afternoon?" Hermione asked. "We were looking for you."
Melissa took another sip as she deliberated what to say. Flying with Malfoy…talking with Malfoy…laughing with Malfoy… Maybe she should just leave Malfoy out.
"Um…you know. Around," she replied vaguely. Hermione's eyes narrowed, but she didn't say anything. Melissa felt a funny twist in her stomach. Why was she lying to her best friends?
/\What are you lying about? /\ A voice asked. Melissa's head snapped up.
\/Harry? \/ She said tentatively.
/\Duh, who else would it be? The Boogey wizard? /\ Harry responded incredulously.
\/Shut up.\/ Melissa's ordered lamely. A moment later…
/\Well? What are you lying about? /\
\/Harry, please, just let it go. Leave it alone. \/ Melissa requested, shifting uncomfortably.
"Melissa, why—"
"Harry, just leave it alone!" Melissa exploded. She leapt up and slammed her cup down onto the scarlet carpet, staining it dark brown. She ran into people as she raced from the room, grabbing her broomstick along the way.
Harry, Dean, Ron, Hermione, and Seamus sat there in stunned silence for several minutes.
"What's got her panties in a twist?" Seamus wondered, breaking the silence.
"SEAMUS!!!!!!!"
……………………
"What?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Once again, Melissa was headed towards the Quidditch pitch. After ten minutes of furious running, she slowed to a walk, breathing heavily. She turned into the stadium and walked up into the stands, only to meet the last person in the world she wanted to see.
"Malfoy!"
Draco Malfoy turned to her with a crooked sort of smile on his face.
"Hello, again," he greeted softly.
"What on earth are you doing here?" Melissa demanded once she got over her shock.
"Dumbledore wanted me to come out here and make sure there wasn't any sixth- years," Malfoy replied, looking out over the pitch. "I walked back out here and was about half-way done my search when, lo and behold, I found…you."
"Why did Dumbledore want you to come and look for any sixth-years?" Melissa asked suspiciously. Malfoy shrugged.
"I don't know," he answered honestly. "All he said was that he, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Snape have an announcement to make. Let's go."
Melissa watched him closely for a moment before relenting.
"Fine."
Once again, the two opposites were heading side-by-side up to the school.
A/N: Yeah, okay, that chapter sucked. You guys have my official permission to tell me that on this chapter, and this chapter only. Email me at BGer_Girl731@yahoo.com or tell me in your review what you think and if you have any suggestions. Thanks!
Katie
