A/N: Sorry! Sweet Circe, I am so sorry for the insanely long wait for this
chapter! *thwaps self* I hates my schedule I do really! Also, once more
please go and read ScarletRurouni's "The Student, The Typhoon, and the
Closet" as it's a spin off of my own fic and includes more of me and
Gilderoy there, however from her or Vash's point of view!
Acknowledgments:
ScarletRurouni: Aiya! Here's the next chappie! *happy hobbelf smile* Here's looking forward to Vash's babysitting Gilderoy.
DarkShadowsFan: I still think it's ruddy awesome that you're writing your own Gilderoy closety type story! Oh you so have to go and join the community I just made which is devoted this these types of stories! Go to greatestjournal.com and type in "frommycloset" in the search box and join! Yesh you must, because then you can post the info to your fic and it's like a promotions board!
Crystalunicorn14: *Hobbity huggies* Here's to you, kiddo!
Jestana: Yes, and what do you mean "inflicting" Python on him? It's ruddy great! You have to see it sometime too! Dry British humor rules!
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That same day later in the afternoon, it happened. The big IT: grocery run. I'd clean forgot to pick up some food for the week, and there was naught in the refrigerator but salads and weird vegetables which I deemed "rabbit food". There was stuff in the pantry but it consisted mainly of rice and beans. Stuff I didn't necessarily eat and even if I did, had no previous experience cooking it. I bit my lip and looked in the freezer next. No dice. Just loads of meat and stuff you'd have to actually clean, marinade, and roast. I'm not exactly a chef here, so I'm potentially screwed.
*Crap... it's just not bloody right!*
I shut the freezer door and glanced at the clock. The little digital numbers flashed 5:48pm. I suppose I'll have to go. Ordinarily if I'd been on my own I would have waited to go the next day in the cover of daylight. I'd have taken a few slices of bread and made that my dinner, but that would not do. I had Gilderoy staying with me and I would not subject him to starvation, even if I would have subjected myself to it under other circumstances.
As such, I sighed and left the kitchen. Making my way to my bedroom which was empty. I glanced around a little stupidly. It's not like he'd hide behind the door and jump out at me. I shrugged and figured he'd probably gone to the restroom or outside. I grabbed my purse, green fleece jacket, and scribbled a quick note on my handy dandy post-it notes located in my desk. I took the note, left my room, and went to go walk out the front door. Once I'd placed the note on the door and I locked it shut and turned to leave down my front walk.
"Going somewhere?" Gilderoy asked out of nowhere, causing me to jump a foot in the air and squeak. I whirled around to find him on my porch swing with my cat, Patches, on his lap.
*Stephie you idiot. Why didn't you think to look on the porch?*
I nodded. "Yes, I'll just be right back. I can't exactly make dinner as we've no food left. So I'll be going to the market to get some." I told him stepping back onto the porch, getting out my keys to unlock the door so that he'd be able to get back inside.
Gilderoy stared at me incredulous. "You're going to the market?"
"Yes..." I gazed back at him, a little confused by his expression.
"You're going to the market at night?" He pressed on.
I stood there wondering what in the world he was slowly getting at. "Yes...?" I replied.
"You're going to the market at night, alone?" He stood now, still incredulous.
*So! That's what he's on about. Oh Merlin, that's just great...*
I nearly snorted and put my face in my hands. "Yes, indeed. What else do you expect? I've no car, and I've no one to drive me to the market and back. I'm not a witch so I cannot just use a magical way to get there and back. We need food now, I can't let you starve. Understand?" I explained it to him, all the while still trying to find the blasted keys in my purse.
Gilderoy nodded but still gave me that slightly incredulous expression. "But alone? I don't like that idea. A young lady such as yourself going about the city at night, alone?" He asked, rising from his spot on the swing. Patches meowed and raced away down the walk.
I glanced at him levelly. "What's wrong with that? Are you of mind that since I am a woman I should not be going about anywhere on my own?" I asked, hoping I wasn't jumping to conclusions. I didn't want to jump on my soap box even if that remark had sounded slightly chauvinistic.
"Oh, Merlin no! That's not what I meant." He looked stricken. "I er... I-I meant that you're young and... well, since you are a woman... those two combinations tend to attract trouble..." Gilderoy managed to sputter, somewhat coherently.
*Oh great, he's worried about me! I'm so glad he's not met my parents else he'd be right upset with them.*
I couldn't help but laugh then. My parents were not averse to my traipsing around on my own, even at night. In fact, they actually urged me to as it saved them the of trouble driving me around. It was most inconvenient for them to take me even four blocks down to the market and back even in daylight.
I gave him my most patient expression then. "Look, I'm really flattered that you are concerned and all, but this isn't the first time I'll be going somewhere alone at night. I don't know if it's obvious or not, but I am used to doing things on my own, since I don't have my parents or practically anyone helping me or at least offering to. I'll be fine." I told him firmly.
What he did next surprised me greatly. For a completely selfish and egocentric person he actually gave me a look I would only expect Remus Lupin or Albus Dumbledore to give. I was thrown for a loop, seriously.
"You're not going alone. I'll come with you." He said in just as much a firm voice as my own.
I didn't know what to say. Here was a wizard who was completely inexperienced in muggle living offering to accompany me to a market. I didn't know whether to be flattered or afraid. I think I was a bit of both. Shrugging, I stopped looking for the keys as it seemed I would not be needing to unlock the door. "Suit yourself, Gilderoy." I responded, gesturing for him to follow me down the walk.
We then went on our way. Me, with my quick speed walking and Gilderoy with his leisurely graceful stroll. As we walked though, I glanced around very much alert and alive. For some peculiar reason I now came to like walking home from classes or wherever at night. I know it's dangerous and I could easily be mugged or raped, but somehow walking home alone by night made me feel alive and reinforced my solitary independence. Aside from that fact, I liked night. It was beautiful and would be even more so were I somewhere else than in the icky city with it's noise and car exhaust fumes.
Maybe because I was with someone this time or maybe because I was walking in my usual fast pace, we got to the market really quickly. I moved inside and got a little basket and headed straight for aisle number three, tossing in six cans of Spaghettio's, two bags of pasta, and pasta sauce. As I moved about I tossed in two of those personal size pizzas, two boxes of maccaroni and cheese, and loaded up on a box of Chunky Chips Ahoy complete with little canister of Vanilla cake frosting.
All through this, Gilderoy simply followed me and didn't say or do anything to merit a glare from me. He seemed to be learning quick, that one. I was actually quite proud, really. Especially when I got to the line and up to the cashier, he actually helped load the stuff on the little conveyor belt. Though, I was not happy when he made to carry all the bags.
"Gilderoy, I can carry those quite fine, thank you." I told him, reaching for one of them just before he held it to him and out of my grasp. "Rules of chivalry m'dear. A gentleman always carries a lady's bags or any such articles." He smiled a winning smile at me.
*Huff puff, not that routine on me!*
I crossed my arms and followed him as he had turned his back on me to begin walking out of the store, WITH those bags that I SHOULD have been carrying. "Look, Gilderoy Lockhart, you've no need to go all chivalric on me. There's no need and there's no point. I've never been pampered or babied in my life so you can just dream on. I'm no lady all right!" I caught up to him and tried to wrench one of the bags from him, in a move both firm and yet not exactly aggressive or violent.
Gilderoy continued to walk, but yet glanced at me with a quirked up eyebrow. "If you're not a lady, then what do you think you are?" He asked me.
I growled a little. "I'm just me, just Stephie. I'm no lady. I'm no personage of royal or important stature. I'm just a college student trying to make it in this world, all right?!"
"Why do you think so little of yourself?" Gilderoy pressed, looking at me more intently this time as we both walked and while I still tried to make some grabs at the bags which he managed still to keep away from me.
I wasn't going to give up, not by a long shot. "It's not that I think so little of myself as you say, I just don't have any delusions to grandeur or greatness. I don't expect you to understand."
For the first time since he'd quite literally breezed into my life, he didn't appear stung or hurt in anyway from my statement. Apparently he was learning that was my bark wasn't per se done in a mean spirit. He just looked at me and nodded to show he'd heard what I said and would try to understand it at least.
"I suppose I can come to understand it..." He murmured, pausing a little. I seized my chance and grabbed the bags from him, a smug triumphant little smirk on my face.
I actually expected him to try and take them back, but he didn't. He just stood there looking very amused at me. I swear, he looked like he was silently laughing at me.
*What in the faerying forest...?*
I turned and decided to ignore it... when I saw precisely where I was. I was standing in the driveway of my house. We'd gone all the way from the market to home and now that I'd finally managed to get the bags, it was a wasted effort since were already home.
*Note to self: SMITE HIM WITH A BLUNT SPOON!*
"I should kick you." I groused as I went up the door and unlocked it. He merely gave me a very very cheeky grin and waited for me to enter before he too came inside. I in turn glared at him and made my way to the kitchen to unload the groceries. He followed me into the kitchen and made to grab one of the bags to put away the contents but I was quicker this time. I snatched it away.
"No you don't! Go and settle yourself in the living room or wherever! You're not helping! I can do it myself, d'arvit!" I snapped, just daring him to try. He, however, shook his head amused at me, deciding this time to just plain acquiesce to my wishes. I smirked triumphantly as he left the kitchen, leaving me to prepare dinner.
*So... now what to make... decisions... decisions... gotta love them... want to kill them.*
Acknowledgments:
ScarletRurouni: Aiya! Here's the next chappie! *happy hobbelf smile* Here's looking forward to Vash's babysitting Gilderoy.
DarkShadowsFan: I still think it's ruddy awesome that you're writing your own Gilderoy closety type story! Oh you so have to go and join the community I just made which is devoted this these types of stories! Go to greatestjournal.com and type in "frommycloset" in the search box and join! Yesh you must, because then you can post the info to your fic and it's like a promotions board!
Crystalunicorn14: *Hobbity huggies* Here's to you, kiddo!
Jestana: Yes, and what do you mean "inflicting" Python on him? It's ruddy great! You have to see it sometime too! Dry British humor rules!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
That same day later in the afternoon, it happened. The big IT: grocery run. I'd clean forgot to pick up some food for the week, and there was naught in the refrigerator but salads and weird vegetables which I deemed "rabbit food". There was stuff in the pantry but it consisted mainly of rice and beans. Stuff I didn't necessarily eat and even if I did, had no previous experience cooking it. I bit my lip and looked in the freezer next. No dice. Just loads of meat and stuff you'd have to actually clean, marinade, and roast. I'm not exactly a chef here, so I'm potentially screwed.
*Crap... it's just not bloody right!*
I shut the freezer door and glanced at the clock. The little digital numbers flashed 5:48pm. I suppose I'll have to go. Ordinarily if I'd been on my own I would have waited to go the next day in the cover of daylight. I'd have taken a few slices of bread and made that my dinner, but that would not do. I had Gilderoy staying with me and I would not subject him to starvation, even if I would have subjected myself to it under other circumstances.
As such, I sighed and left the kitchen. Making my way to my bedroom which was empty. I glanced around a little stupidly. It's not like he'd hide behind the door and jump out at me. I shrugged and figured he'd probably gone to the restroom or outside. I grabbed my purse, green fleece jacket, and scribbled a quick note on my handy dandy post-it notes located in my desk. I took the note, left my room, and went to go walk out the front door. Once I'd placed the note on the door and I locked it shut and turned to leave down my front walk.
"Going somewhere?" Gilderoy asked out of nowhere, causing me to jump a foot in the air and squeak. I whirled around to find him on my porch swing with my cat, Patches, on his lap.
*Stephie you idiot. Why didn't you think to look on the porch?*
I nodded. "Yes, I'll just be right back. I can't exactly make dinner as we've no food left. So I'll be going to the market to get some." I told him stepping back onto the porch, getting out my keys to unlock the door so that he'd be able to get back inside.
Gilderoy stared at me incredulous. "You're going to the market?"
"Yes..." I gazed back at him, a little confused by his expression.
"You're going to the market at night?" He pressed on.
I stood there wondering what in the world he was slowly getting at. "Yes...?" I replied.
"You're going to the market at night, alone?" He stood now, still incredulous.
*So! That's what he's on about. Oh Merlin, that's just great...*
I nearly snorted and put my face in my hands. "Yes, indeed. What else do you expect? I've no car, and I've no one to drive me to the market and back. I'm not a witch so I cannot just use a magical way to get there and back. We need food now, I can't let you starve. Understand?" I explained it to him, all the while still trying to find the blasted keys in my purse.
Gilderoy nodded but still gave me that slightly incredulous expression. "But alone? I don't like that idea. A young lady such as yourself going about the city at night, alone?" He asked, rising from his spot on the swing. Patches meowed and raced away down the walk.
I glanced at him levelly. "What's wrong with that? Are you of mind that since I am a woman I should not be going about anywhere on my own?" I asked, hoping I wasn't jumping to conclusions. I didn't want to jump on my soap box even if that remark had sounded slightly chauvinistic.
"Oh, Merlin no! That's not what I meant." He looked stricken. "I er... I-I meant that you're young and... well, since you are a woman... those two combinations tend to attract trouble..." Gilderoy managed to sputter, somewhat coherently.
*Oh great, he's worried about me! I'm so glad he's not met my parents else he'd be right upset with them.*
I couldn't help but laugh then. My parents were not averse to my traipsing around on my own, even at night. In fact, they actually urged me to as it saved them the of trouble driving me around. It was most inconvenient for them to take me even four blocks down to the market and back even in daylight.
I gave him my most patient expression then. "Look, I'm really flattered that you are concerned and all, but this isn't the first time I'll be going somewhere alone at night. I don't know if it's obvious or not, but I am used to doing things on my own, since I don't have my parents or practically anyone helping me or at least offering to. I'll be fine." I told him firmly.
What he did next surprised me greatly. For a completely selfish and egocentric person he actually gave me a look I would only expect Remus Lupin or Albus Dumbledore to give. I was thrown for a loop, seriously.
"You're not going alone. I'll come with you." He said in just as much a firm voice as my own.
I didn't know what to say. Here was a wizard who was completely inexperienced in muggle living offering to accompany me to a market. I didn't know whether to be flattered or afraid. I think I was a bit of both. Shrugging, I stopped looking for the keys as it seemed I would not be needing to unlock the door. "Suit yourself, Gilderoy." I responded, gesturing for him to follow me down the walk.
We then went on our way. Me, with my quick speed walking and Gilderoy with his leisurely graceful stroll. As we walked though, I glanced around very much alert and alive. For some peculiar reason I now came to like walking home from classes or wherever at night. I know it's dangerous and I could easily be mugged or raped, but somehow walking home alone by night made me feel alive and reinforced my solitary independence. Aside from that fact, I liked night. It was beautiful and would be even more so were I somewhere else than in the icky city with it's noise and car exhaust fumes.
Maybe because I was with someone this time or maybe because I was walking in my usual fast pace, we got to the market really quickly. I moved inside and got a little basket and headed straight for aisle number three, tossing in six cans of Spaghettio's, two bags of pasta, and pasta sauce. As I moved about I tossed in two of those personal size pizzas, two boxes of maccaroni and cheese, and loaded up on a box of Chunky Chips Ahoy complete with little canister of Vanilla cake frosting.
All through this, Gilderoy simply followed me and didn't say or do anything to merit a glare from me. He seemed to be learning quick, that one. I was actually quite proud, really. Especially when I got to the line and up to the cashier, he actually helped load the stuff on the little conveyor belt. Though, I was not happy when he made to carry all the bags.
"Gilderoy, I can carry those quite fine, thank you." I told him, reaching for one of them just before he held it to him and out of my grasp. "Rules of chivalry m'dear. A gentleman always carries a lady's bags or any such articles." He smiled a winning smile at me.
*Huff puff, not that routine on me!*
I crossed my arms and followed him as he had turned his back on me to begin walking out of the store, WITH those bags that I SHOULD have been carrying. "Look, Gilderoy Lockhart, you've no need to go all chivalric on me. There's no need and there's no point. I've never been pampered or babied in my life so you can just dream on. I'm no lady all right!" I caught up to him and tried to wrench one of the bags from him, in a move both firm and yet not exactly aggressive or violent.
Gilderoy continued to walk, but yet glanced at me with a quirked up eyebrow. "If you're not a lady, then what do you think you are?" He asked me.
I growled a little. "I'm just me, just Stephie. I'm no lady. I'm no personage of royal or important stature. I'm just a college student trying to make it in this world, all right?!"
"Why do you think so little of yourself?" Gilderoy pressed, looking at me more intently this time as we both walked and while I still tried to make some grabs at the bags which he managed still to keep away from me.
I wasn't going to give up, not by a long shot. "It's not that I think so little of myself as you say, I just don't have any delusions to grandeur or greatness. I don't expect you to understand."
For the first time since he'd quite literally breezed into my life, he didn't appear stung or hurt in anyway from my statement. Apparently he was learning that was my bark wasn't per se done in a mean spirit. He just looked at me and nodded to show he'd heard what I said and would try to understand it at least.
"I suppose I can come to understand it..." He murmured, pausing a little. I seized my chance and grabbed the bags from him, a smug triumphant little smirk on my face.
I actually expected him to try and take them back, but he didn't. He just stood there looking very amused at me. I swear, he looked like he was silently laughing at me.
*What in the faerying forest...?*
I turned and decided to ignore it... when I saw precisely where I was. I was standing in the driveway of my house. We'd gone all the way from the market to home and now that I'd finally managed to get the bags, it was a wasted effort since were already home.
*Note to self: SMITE HIM WITH A BLUNT SPOON!*
"I should kick you." I groused as I went up the door and unlocked it. He merely gave me a very very cheeky grin and waited for me to enter before he too came inside. I in turn glared at him and made my way to the kitchen to unload the groceries. He followed me into the kitchen and made to grab one of the bags to put away the contents but I was quicker this time. I snatched it away.
"No you don't! Go and settle yourself in the living room or wherever! You're not helping! I can do it myself, d'arvit!" I snapped, just daring him to try. He, however, shook his head amused at me, deciding this time to just plain acquiesce to my wishes. I smirked triumphantly as he left the kitchen, leaving me to prepare dinner.
*So... now what to make... decisions... decisions... gotta love them... want to kill them.*