Chapter 6: I AM the lion...
Disclaimer: I... Demetre Ironhilt and sole owner of the keyboard typing these words... Do Not Own Harry Potter. K?
A/n: Wow, some of y'all gave me really good reviews. I feel pretty darn special... Happy fuzzy, good, warm, feelings to everyone, who reviewd! Lol... now where were we? Oh yes:
...Just one foot closer to Fred and George.
Filch, that was the only answer. If anyone knew where they were, then it would be him. Although I must note that with all the scrapes Fred and George have gotten in to, the amount of times that Filch actually caught them were few in number. Nevertheless, my determination and hot- headedness got the better of me. Glaring at the stone walls that flew past me in a rushed blur ("blasted stone!"), I hastened myself to his office, the back of my smock flapping behind me. I'd been there once before when my broom was confiscated in my second year. I wasn't supposed to have brought one with me unless I was on the quidditch team, and I wasn't then. Its still difficult to think of me without quidditch, I guess that things haven't changed so much. Anger that was rushing through me now was the same that powered me to get my broom back that year. I think I may have truly scared Filch.
I rounded a corner and stepped on something too fuzzy to be a carpet- his cat. It screeched wildly and ran away into the safe and comforting zone between Filch's legs (Although I wouldn't describe that zone as safe or comfortable...). Filch snarled, gray, limp hair strewn over his face like a wild beast.
"What do ya want?!" he snarled again as his cat hissed venemously.
"I would like to know-"
"No," he barked.
"Pardon?"
"No. You step on my cat, I want an apology."
I rolled my eyes. "Mr. Filch, I am so terribly sorry that I happened to step on your cat just a minute ago. I promise you that I will use all of my power and will to reassure you that it shan't happen again. And under the circumstances, if I should break that promise, then I will repent-"
"Enough! I didn't ask for sarcasm. God knows Mrs. Norris didn't appreciate it." He looked at me warily, probably remembering our last encounter. "Don't got time for nuffink you have to say. Be on your way!"
"I just wanted to know if you knew where Fred and George are," I shot out.
His eyes narrowed to menacing slits. "Weasely brothers, eh? I'm glad I don't. Its the highlight of my day. But if you do find them doing sumfink that they shouldn't, you give me a quick holler." He laughed hoarsely. "Get on with yourself!"
I grunted in displeasure, but walked past him none the same. Where were all the helpful people in the world? Probably playing quidditch.
...Quidditch...
^o^
Where would they go? Where I couldn't. I hustled myself outside to the quidditch field, my quidditch field. I owned that it field. It was mine- all of it! Maniacle laughter escaped my lips. Revenge... at last. I stepped onto my field.
Lucious green grass crunched softly under my bare feet, the sky shown bright and the wind was low, perfect quidditch conditions. I kneeled down low, and grasped a handful of the grass. My kingdom, my dominion. I was tempted to kiss the ground, but stopped myself not on the account of sanity, but on the account that I just spotted a head of red hair. I crouched low, possibly they had not seen me here. My white hospital gown would blend in so well with the vividly green grass. As far as I was concerned, mentally I was a part of the grass- no one could spot me.
My eyes narrowed to slits as the gryffindor in me took over. Fred and George were in view not far away, each holding a broom and obviously argueing with eachother. I smirked- infidels! Ingrates! Watch them try to play me for the fool that I am! I scuffled forward inch by inch- they were so close.
One of them looked in my direction, as if they were staring me in the eye. But that was impossible because neither could spot me! One twin nudged the other and they both seemed as if they were staring at me, but I knew better than to trust my instincts. I was practically invisible.
My heart began to drum, I could wait no longer. I jumped up from my protection amongst the grass with an almighty roar.
"Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!" I snarled, holding my hands at menacing length.
One blinked.
"Grrrrrrrrr-" I tried again.
He put his hand over my mouth. "You- NEED- HELP!"
I took a step back, and dropped my arms. That surprisingly shut me up. Did I just growl at Fred and George? They burst out laughing as I straightened up, patting down my smock. I could feel my burning cheeks turning red.
"I guess I got a little bit ahead of myself there," I admitted, jocular.
"You s-sure did!" Fred got out between guffaws.
A smiled amiably. "Yes, I can't kill you by growling at you!" I lunged at them, all of the anger rolling back inside my system.
"Woah there!" George shrieked as his brother was pummeled with an almighty thud. It was the first time I had ever really seen Fred scared, his eyes were as wide as saucers as he fought me.
George's arms fumbled to get me off of him, but it was to know avail. I am the grass... I am the lion... I heard him sigh, frustrated.
"Yenga!" George yelled. I looked up just in time to see a fuzzy pink haze travel for me. The next moment I was on my back, feeling slightly nauseous. Fred stood up with much difficulty, rubbing the shoulder I had bruised. I stood up quickly, ready to attack again.
"Hold on!" George mediated. He thrust his broom under my chin. "Be kind, Wood. You said you wanted to be normal- beating up my brother is not normal, neither is it healthy."
"Normal? You want to talk about normal?!" I demanded, settling myself into a calmer state. "I- I - I-" was at a loss for words. I was embarrassed, and angry. "I have been embarassed, and I'm very angry!"
"We believe you," Fred put in, rubbing his bleeding lip quickly. "But it is not our fault that you hit that wall-"
"- And it hit you back-"
"-Or that you fell out of bed-"
"-Or that you tried to attack as a lion," George finished slyly. "Remind me to get some of that 'special' pumpkin juice of Madame Pomfrey's- it looks useful."
"It is too your fault!" I stomped my foot. I'm convinced that tantrums actually get you somewhere. "You made me sign that stupid contract!"
"You didn't have to sign it," said Fred reasonably.
"Yeah, but you said that I could be normal if I did-"
"No we didn't," put in George. "We said that you had to do everything that we say, and that it would help you impress Katie."
"But now that we know what happens when you break the contract, we'll just rip it up," said Fred. He pulled out a damned piece of parchment, held it up to the light, and then ripped it down the center.
"What?!" I yelled. "That contract has put me through more hell in the past day than- than- Marcus Flint and you two put together!" I said, enraged. "Was this just a fluke? Please do not tell me that you're planning on selling something like this for your joke shop?"
"Fine, we won't tell you," said George happily. "Now then, how are things with Katie?"
I sank to me knees and held my head in my hands. "You don't understand," I said angstfully. "I just- I just made a complete fool of myself. I tried to attack you- I thought I was a bloody lion! I ran into a wall, I lost an amazing quidditch oppurtunity! I fell out of a hospital bed! And don't even start me on Katie, I'm sure she utterly loathes me by now!" I took deep breathes hoping to calm myself.
The twins looked at me sympathetically. "Look mate," Fred started in an unconvincing tone. "George and I have attacked people loads of times pretending to be lions. Just loads! Right George?"
"Right- o!"
"And I know that I've seen at least one of my brothers run into a wall-" Fred continued.
"Yes he has!" George agreed.
"And the hospital bed... well I'm sure Katie can't completely loathe you." Fred looked ruefully at me.
"Why can't she?"
"Because she likes you," George said simply.
"Really?" I asked.
"Of course she does- everyone likes Oliver Wood! Except for select Gryffindors at 4 in the morning on a rainy day during quidditch runs," Fred reasoned. "Did you ever know that you're my hero?" he sang out.
Okay, that was a little too enthusiastic. "I'd love to believe you guys, but I can't. I will never be the normal wizard that I strive to be. I will live alone, in the wilderness where no one will be able to find me ("unless you use a locator spell"-Fred). And there I will dissolve into nothingness, never knowing how to truly live-"
"That's a touching story, Wood," George said, pretending to wipe away a tear. "But that will never get you anywhere. Take it from me and my brother, becoming depressed will not solve your problems. And boy, do you have problems."
I scowled at him. "I know that I have problems. The question is, are you finally going to help me? In a way that actually works?"
Fred cleared his throat. "You have to behave yourself. This look (he waved his hand around his face) is not the most appealing with this face. You can control yourself, can't you?"
"Sure," I said easily.
"My friend," George patted me on the back. "I believe that it is time."
"You are worthy of our cause, so how's about a quick flying lesson?" Fred asked.
"Huh?" I asked dumbly.
"Some words are better shared up there," Fred pointed to the sky. "Grab your broom so we can teach and you can learn."
I grinned before turning back to the castle.
"And for MERLIN'S sake, Man! Tie up that smock or change out if it! No one wants to see that!"
An: Ahhh! I had too many ideas for this chapter so its kinda scrambled! Ugh, I actually had too much to put in. You know, I think that I might have problems. I have no idea why I made Oliver roar like a lion- I blame it on Madame Pomfrey's "special juice", okay? Oliver is supposed to be disoriented. Sure. Hehehe. Untied hospital gown. Hehehe. Yeah- I'm not immature.
By The Way Guys! Its my Birthday! So REVIEW and MAKE ME HAPPY! (tell me what you think of this chapter, am I slipping? I need feedback!) I have decided, virtual birthday party for everyone who reviewed the last chapter! Wee!
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