Ch. 7 Announcements
A/N- Heywoah All. Hope you enjoy this chapter. Umm…let's see. Squishy Rocks (as always), B. (You're the greatest. Thanks for all the support.) And to all of my SL thanks for putting up with me.
Disclaimer- I don't own Harry Potter. If you recognize it, it isn't mine. If you don't it might be mine, or it might be on loan.
Now on with the story….
Halloween passed at Hogwarts uneventfully for the first time in many years. October faded into November and the school saw it's first snow. As the days slipped slowly by Jessi and Remus each let their guard down. The awkward silences were soon gone, replaced by an easy though somewhat newfound friendship.
The third Thursday in November all of the students were gathered in the Great Hall awaiting dinner. Jessi, Harry, Hermione and Ron sat talking quietly. Hermione was trying to keep them talking about their Advanced Potions project, but Ron kept glaring over Hermione's shoulder at Olivia Trainer, his on-again-off-again girlfriend with whom he'd just recently broken up with for the zillionth time.
"She's gone to school here for seven bloody years, you would think that she'd realize that we aren't ever going to celebrate Thanksgiving" Ron stated tersely.
"What are you and Olivia fighting about now" Harry asked trying to hide a smirk.
"She's bloody mental…she thinks just because she's beautiful and talented and……." he trailed off.
"Ron" Hermione said impatiently
"Yeah Ronniekins...you were telling us why you're fighting with Olivia" Jessi said cutting Hermione off. Ron never got the chance to answer because Dumbledore stood and clapped his hands softly drawing the attention of all the students.
"Attention students…I realize that you are all awaiting your dinner, but I have a rather exciting announcement to make. The other Professor's and I have decide that there will be a Yule ball for all students fourth year and up. It will be held the Friday before you all leave for the holidays and all classes for that day have been cancelled. Now….dig in" he sat down as the food appeared on the table, momentarily forgotten as the mummer of excitement spread throughout the student body.
"Wow a Yule ball…I remember the last one…it was disastrous" Harry stated glumly.
"Yeah, but you went with Parvati last time Harry not to mention the fact that it was three years ago" Hermione stated logically as she buttered a roll.
"Mione" Harry said turning to her "Will you be my date for the Yule ball?" he asked her hurriedly.
"Yes, Harry, I will… not that I'd have said yes to anyone else" She answered him smiling.
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The next morning at breakfast all of the students were buzzing with excitement at the prospect of the Yule ball. The Seventh year Gryffindors all watched inconspicuously as the other students went through the process of asking each other to the dance. With the exception of Jessi and Ron none of them had to ask or wait to be asked by anyone, Lavender would be going with Dean, Parvati with Neville and of course Hermione with Harry. When breakfast was over they all ran off to Defense Against the Dark Arts.
"I love Mondays …Double Defense, followed by Herbology and Divination" Ron said practically jumping for joy.
"Or Arithmancy" Hermione and Jessi stated, giggling at Harry and Ron who were pretending to fight as they made their way down the hall. The four of them were about to enter the class when Jessi felt someone catch a hold of her wrist. She turned abruptly and came face to face with Andrew.
"Andrew….Hi…don't you have Transfiguration right now" she asked confusedly.
"Yeah, but I needed to talk to you…..alone" he said glancing at Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"Um…ok" she turned to her friends "I'll be right in"
"You sure Jess" Harry said stepping forward glaring slightly at Andrew.
"Yes, I'll be fine" she smiled at them and they entered the classroom slowly. "Alright Andrew what is it?"
"You're still mad that I kissed you?" he said quietly.
"No Andrew I'm not mad you kissed me…..I'm disappointed that you told the whole school that we were snogging" she said defensively.
"I didn't Jessi honestly…I told Jason Henson that I kissed you…he told everyone we snogged"
"Ok ok" she smiled slightly "What was it you wanted?"
"Well I was wondering something…well two somethings"
"and those somethings would be" she laughed softly.
"If you would go to the Yule Ball with and if you would be my girlfriend" he said flashing her a quick grin.
"Mr. Scottsdale…I believe Transfiguration is on the fifth floor….not the sixth" Remus stated harshly, coming to a quick halt outside the classroom.
"I know Professor Lupin…I needed to talk to Jessi about our Charms project" Andrew stated amiably.
"Then I suggest you do it on your own time. Not mine or Professor McGonagall's. Five points from each of you for being late….yes you as well Miss Carmichael." he stated composedly.
"I'll talk to you later…"Jessi started but was cut off.
"Miss Carmichael...unless you would like to lose more points I suggest you go inside" Remus said cutting her off.
Jessi shot a weak smile at Andrew and turned on her heel and entered the classroom. She walked quickly to her seat between Ron and Hermione. She slammed her bag on the floor and sat down loudly and angrily. She leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms over her chest scowling angrily.
Every student in the classroom looked up from whatever they were doing when the usually calm and pleasant Defense Professor slammed the door so hard it nearly fell off it's hinges. That particular Defense lesson was the most unpleasant any of the students could ever remember having with Professor Lupin. Lupin was taking house points left and right from both Gryffindor and Slytherin, and he literally seethed with anger as he threw Draco Malfoy out of class when he made a typical derisive comment about the lesson. All of the students left the room pale and subdued as they made their way to the Great Hall for lunch.
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Jessi pounded angrily on the door of Remus' office later that night. She waited patiently for him to tell her to come in. She leaped back slightly when he yanked the door open. "You should be more careful with your doors" She glared up at him as he towered over her.
"Miss Carmichael…I would suggest that you do your work quickly and quietly tonight" he snapped as he shoved a pile of essays into her hands.
"Oh…so it's Miss Carmichael when I do something you don't agree with" she grumbled under her breath as she sank into a chair.
"What was that?" he said as his head snapped up.
"I said…Oh so it's Miss Carmichael when I do something you don't agree with." she said looking at him raising her eyebrows in annoyance.
"Yes" he said sardonically
"Merlin and Zeus" she threw the essays in the chair as she stood. "Would you make up your bloody mind already"
"Make up my mind about what?…and watch your language" he watched he as she began to pace.
"About this…about us and our relationship" she said gesturing between them and groaning in frustration.
"What are you talking about?"
"What am I to you?…explain to me please? Because I don't get it….am I your student, or your friend, or one of the best friends of your unofficial godson?" she ground out as she walked over to the window.
"I would say all of the above" he said standing up.
"The exact same relationship you have with Hermione and Ron….yet you treat me completely different from either of them." she whirled around to face him eyes flashing somewhere between anger and pain.
"You and I will never have the same relationship I have with Hermione and Ron" he snapped crossing over to her.
"WHY THE HELL NOT" she yelled.
"BECAUSE I DON'T LOVE THEM. I LOVE YOU" he yelled back.
Jessi felt her eyes go wide and her jaw drop. She couldn't believe what she'd just heard. She gaped up at him speechless. She watched him as he spun back around and sat back down at his desk. She blinked a couple of times before she picked up her bag and left his office.
A/N- All Right Ya'll know the drill. Click it and Send a Review. 3 Lili