A/N: *PHEW* Here's another chapter for you all! I wanted to make sure I
wrote this while it was still fresh in mind and as soon as I could so that
y'all wouldn't have to endure another two or three week long wait. *grin*
Acknowledgments:
HyperCaz: LOL, I know how it is! I wouldn't want to share the other two characters who will be visiting me in future sections of this trilogy. *grins* I actually made a mistake in that last question. I realized that depending on what TYPE of academic libraries, there is the possibility that the answer should have been the LC (Library of Congress) System, but who really wanted to know that? *winks*
FluffysBijin05: Yare, they did get on well. It's quite amusing really. Thanks!
Ilovesmyblondeybaear: YAY! Tomatoes! Now I can make ketchup! WHEE! Ach no, if you want a sexy sort of story, I can recommend nothing. I know not of such stories featuring Gildie.
Jestana: LOL! MINE! Thanks though for the compliment! Arigatou! Merci!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Later that evening, after a well cooked dinner by Gilderoy, surprisingly enough, he and I sat on the sofa together with our glasses of sparkling cider. He'd refused to let me sit in the smaller love seat and I'd refused to take the sofa all for myself when he was the guest. We managed to come to a most amusing compromise. We BOTH sat in the sofa. I sat comfortably with my legs stretched out, my feet just reaching his hips and the other end of the sofa. He, too, sat comfortably with his legs stretched out and because he was taller, his feet barely dangling off the edge by hips.
I'd tossed my treasured "Mother and Daughter" afghan over our legs, so that we were both comfortably snug and warm. I forget how this particular afghan came into my possession. I hadn't bought it and I know it had never been given to me. I liked to think it was a present from my mother to me, but I didn't. I reminded myself it had just appeared in my closet shelf too long ago for me to even think on how it got there.
I set my glass of sparkling cider down on the coffee table so that I could prop my arm up on the sofa and rest my head on my open palm. I left my eyes flit to the silky white curtains that moved in the crisp late Autumn winds. I was a bit chilly, but I didn't feel it. I was in one of my plain tank tops and jeans, but to me, this was the perfect temperature. I felt just fine.
I spared a glance at my companion, who had his eyes closed contentedly, listening to the music that was playing from my parents sound system. "This is really nice. Who is this again?" Gilderoy asked me, causing me to turn back to him.
"Amy Grant," I answered him, bobbing my head just barely to the music. I've liked Amy Grant for years, and granted, she also did some Christian music here and there, but half the time I tended to disregard or not pay attention to that fact. She's just one of those singers that is not 'in' or 'with the times' per se, but I liked her anyway. I grew up on the music and it was a style I appreciated.
Gilderoy nodded, listening attentively to the music. I took up my cider again then, drinking deeply. I pursed my lips for a moment in thought. "Oy, git," I nudged him with my foot a little, "I've a question for you."
He swivelled his gaze to me then, prompting me with his eyes. I paused, gathering my thoughts. "What's it like to be attractive? To be popular?" I asked him seriously, tilting my head a little in curiosity. He blinked, "Excuse me?"
"You heard me, answer the question." I responded, crossing my arms across my chest then. He continued to stare at me. "Well I-I," he began, looking a little sheepish. "Just be honest, don't try and sugar coat it and don't downplay the answer." I told him, slouching a little, leaning my neck on the arm of the sofa. Gilderoy nodded, thinking some before answering. "It's nice at first, still is... but somewhere along the way it becomes very empty, because you're still alone." He said finally, looking down at his hands, examining them as I sometimes did. "It's also scary, because when you know the regard of many is based on your looks, you begin to wonder if you'll still have such regard when your looks fade with age..." Gilderoy added, his eyes on mine.
I could understand the part about being alone through it all, but I can't say that I understood the fear. I've never felt it or dwelt on it, as I'd always been... well... the ugly duckling. Though, I refuse to use that expression. I often substitute it with words like 'plain' or 'unattractive' duckling. I have some pride after all.
Fingering the edge of the afghan, I gave him a small smile. "I'm sorry. I can't say I fully understand, but I suppose I can appreciate the part about being alone." I told him honestly. I slid my eyes from his to the ceiling, looking closely at the various images the plaster and interspersed glitter made. I could feel Gilderoy staring at me then, and it made my inspection of the ceiling next to impossible since I wasn't able to concentrate when I know someone's staring at me.
"What?" I asked, looking at him again. "Why did you ask that question?" He inquired, it being his turn to be curious and tilt his head in like manner. It didn't help me that his expression made him look even more handsome than before.
*Merlin, it should be illegal for some people to be that gorgeous.*
I shrugged, giving him a level gaze. "I was just wondering what I was missing, if anything." I responded. He gave me a look that said he wasn't buying it. "Seriously!" I said, bopping his arm with my pillow. He chuckled, ducking and tossing his pillow right at me in retaliation. "Oy!" I cried, tossing the afghan over him and jumping to my feet all in one movement.
I laughed and dashed over to the kitchen, deciding to duck and hide in the little laundry alcove. "You can run but you can't hide," his voiced reached my ears as if from very far away. I stifled my laughter and peeked out just barely, spotting him moving away from the living room, going towards the bedrooms in search of me. I grinned, and moved from my hiding space, intent on getting to the coat closet by the front door. I dashed through the room my footsteps as light as I could make them when I was suddenly caught and lifted up as if I weighed nothing at all.
"Aiya?!" I gasped, finding myself in Gilderoy's arms. He merely shook his head. "Tut tut, thought you'd outwit me?" He teased, a most mischievous grin alight on his face. I rolled my eyes and wiggled, hoping that he'd put me down. He didn't.
*Well... I always said I wanted to be swept off my feet... but somehow I hadn't figured in this little scenario*
I pursed my lips and glared. "Gilderoy Lockhart, you put me down this instant." I demanded, crossing my arms. "All right, if you insist," he quite literally dropped me... if only a few inches. I squeaked and threw my arms around him, so that if I fell, he'd fall too. "Git! That's not what I meant and you know it!" I growled, opening one of my eyes to glance at the floor. Was it just me, or was he really tall?
He chuckled, his eyes bright and his lips curled into a half smirk. "Then what did you mean, my dear?" He asked me expectantly, clearly wanting to know what I'd come back with. This would not do. He'd not be taking away the fun for me. What's the point in life if I could not amuse and surprise someone?
"I meant that you should kindly set me on my feet once again, so that I may salvage as much of my dignity as possible. Aside from that, it's highly improper the way you're carrying on." I told him, with quite the level gaze, even if I wanted so much to laugh at that point. "In the old days, we'd have to marry for being this close and intimate." I pointed out, unwinding my arms from around his neck so that I could cross them once again. He smiled roguishly then, moving away from the wall towards the end of the couch, with me still in his arms. "Hmm... quite a fine idea if you ask me." He responded, grinning.
*So, I hadn't seen that one coming...*
I narrowed my eyes at him. "That may be fine for you, but I'm too tired to be married." I responded without missing a beat. He blinked, gazing askance at me. "Don't you mean too young?" He asked. I shook my head, still holding the level gaze. "No, precisely what I said, too tired to be married, but now that I think of it, I'm too young and too short as well. You see, it just wouldn't work out." I replied with a straight face. He chuckled, quite amused with my odd answer. "Aside from that, aren't you getting tired of carrying me?" I asked him, going on to add, "I'm quite heavy, you know."
Gilderoy shook his head. "You're as light as a feather," he told me, smiling. I didn't believe that for one moment. I know perfectly well how heavy I was. "Lies," I muttered, not exactly belittling myself when I said that. I knew I was average in both height and weight, but I was not egocentric enough to belief I was light. I knew I was at the very least, slightly heavy. Because he'd lied, I decided to move in with a preemptive strike. I began to tickle him, willing to risk his dropping me at that point because we were by the couch anyway.
"Arrgh!" He cried, the both of us tumbling down hard onto the floor. I'd missed the couch by several inches, but at least my ankle had landed on the couch. Part of the plan had worked, except for the part with the throbbing along my elbows, shoulder, and hip. That part had not been part of the plan. "Sod it all..." I groused, rubbing my arm with a slight wince. I glanced over at Gilderoy, poking him gently on the shoulder. "I didn't kill you did I?" I asked.
He managed to get into a sitting position then. "No, but my pain in my limbs would suggest otherwise." He responded, glancing over at me, still slightly amused. "Desperate times called for desperate measures." I told him, as if that would explain everything. He just shook his head, muttering, "You win."
*I do so love it when I win.*
Acknowledgments:
HyperCaz: LOL, I know how it is! I wouldn't want to share the other two characters who will be visiting me in future sections of this trilogy. *grins* I actually made a mistake in that last question. I realized that depending on what TYPE of academic libraries, there is the possibility that the answer should have been the LC (Library of Congress) System, but who really wanted to know that? *winks*
FluffysBijin05: Yare, they did get on well. It's quite amusing really. Thanks!
Ilovesmyblondeybaear: YAY! Tomatoes! Now I can make ketchup! WHEE! Ach no, if you want a sexy sort of story, I can recommend nothing. I know not of such stories featuring Gildie.
Jestana: LOL! MINE! Thanks though for the compliment! Arigatou! Merci!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Later that evening, after a well cooked dinner by Gilderoy, surprisingly enough, he and I sat on the sofa together with our glasses of sparkling cider. He'd refused to let me sit in the smaller love seat and I'd refused to take the sofa all for myself when he was the guest. We managed to come to a most amusing compromise. We BOTH sat in the sofa. I sat comfortably with my legs stretched out, my feet just reaching his hips and the other end of the sofa. He, too, sat comfortably with his legs stretched out and because he was taller, his feet barely dangling off the edge by hips.
I'd tossed my treasured "Mother and Daughter" afghan over our legs, so that we were both comfortably snug and warm. I forget how this particular afghan came into my possession. I hadn't bought it and I know it had never been given to me. I liked to think it was a present from my mother to me, but I didn't. I reminded myself it had just appeared in my closet shelf too long ago for me to even think on how it got there.
I set my glass of sparkling cider down on the coffee table so that I could prop my arm up on the sofa and rest my head on my open palm. I left my eyes flit to the silky white curtains that moved in the crisp late Autumn winds. I was a bit chilly, but I didn't feel it. I was in one of my plain tank tops and jeans, but to me, this was the perfect temperature. I felt just fine.
I spared a glance at my companion, who had his eyes closed contentedly, listening to the music that was playing from my parents sound system. "This is really nice. Who is this again?" Gilderoy asked me, causing me to turn back to him.
"Amy Grant," I answered him, bobbing my head just barely to the music. I've liked Amy Grant for years, and granted, she also did some Christian music here and there, but half the time I tended to disregard or not pay attention to that fact. She's just one of those singers that is not 'in' or 'with the times' per se, but I liked her anyway. I grew up on the music and it was a style I appreciated.
Gilderoy nodded, listening attentively to the music. I took up my cider again then, drinking deeply. I pursed my lips for a moment in thought. "Oy, git," I nudged him with my foot a little, "I've a question for you."
He swivelled his gaze to me then, prompting me with his eyes. I paused, gathering my thoughts. "What's it like to be attractive? To be popular?" I asked him seriously, tilting my head a little in curiosity. He blinked, "Excuse me?"
"You heard me, answer the question." I responded, crossing my arms across my chest then. He continued to stare at me. "Well I-I," he began, looking a little sheepish. "Just be honest, don't try and sugar coat it and don't downplay the answer." I told him, slouching a little, leaning my neck on the arm of the sofa. Gilderoy nodded, thinking some before answering. "It's nice at first, still is... but somewhere along the way it becomes very empty, because you're still alone." He said finally, looking down at his hands, examining them as I sometimes did. "It's also scary, because when you know the regard of many is based on your looks, you begin to wonder if you'll still have such regard when your looks fade with age..." Gilderoy added, his eyes on mine.
I could understand the part about being alone through it all, but I can't say that I understood the fear. I've never felt it or dwelt on it, as I'd always been... well... the ugly duckling. Though, I refuse to use that expression. I often substitute it with words like 'plain' or 'unattractive' duckling. I have some pride after all.
Fingering the edge of the afghan, I gave him a small smile. "I'm sorry. I can't say I fully understand, but I suppose I can appreciate the part about being alone." I told him honestly. I slid my eyes from his to the ceiling, looking closely at the various images the plaster and interspersed glitter made. I could feel Gilderoy staring at me then, and it made my inspection of the ceiling next to impossible since I wasn't able to concentrate when I know someone's staring at me.
"What?" I asked, looking at him again. "Why did you ask that question?" He inquired, it being his turn to be curious and tilt his head in like manner. It didn't help me that his expression made him look even more handsome than before.
*Merlin, it should be illegal for some people to be that gorgeous.*
I shrugged, giving him a level gaze. "I was just wondering what I was missing, if anything." I responded. He gave me a look that said he wasn't buying it. "Seriously!" I said, bopping his arm with my pillow. He chuckled, ducking and tossing his pillow right at me in retaliation. "Oy!" I cried, tossing the afghan over him and jumping to my feet all in one movement.
I laughed and dashed over to the kitchen, deciding to duck and hide in the little laundry alcove. "You can run but you can't hide," his voiced reached my ears as if from very far away. I stifled my laughter and peeked out just barely, spotting him moving away from the living room, going towards the bedrooms in search of me. I grinned, and moved from my hiding space, intent on getting to the coat closet by the front door. I dashed through the room my footsteps as light as I could make them when I was suddenly caught and lifted up as if I weighed nothing at all.
"Aiya?!" I gasped, finding myself in Gilderoy's arms. He merely shook his head. "Tut tut, thought you'd outwit me?" He teased, a most mischievous grin alight on his face. I rolled my eyes and wiggled, hoping that he'd put me down. He didn't.
*Well... I always said I wanted to be swept off my feet... but somehow I hadn't figured in this little scenario*
I pursed my lips and glared. "Gilderoy Lockhart, you put me down this instant." I demanded, crossing my arms. "All right, if you insist," he quite literally dropped me... if only a few inches. I squeaked and threw my arms around him, so that if I fell, he'd fall too. "Git! That's not what I meant and you know it!" I growled, opening one of my eyes to glance at the floor. Was it just me, or was he really tall?
He chuckled, his eyes bright and his lips curled into a half smirk. "Then what did you mean, my dear?" He asked me expectantly, clearly wanting to know what I'd come back with. This would not do. He'd not be taking away the fun for me. What's the point in life if I could not amuse and surprise someone?
"I meant that you should kindly set me on my feet once again, so that I may salvage as much of my dignity as possible. Aside from that, it's highly improper the way you're carrying on." I told him, with quite the level gaze, even if I wanted so much to laugh at that point. "In the old days, we'd have to marry for being this close and intimate." I pointed out, unwinding my arms from around his neck so that I could cross them once again. He smiled roguishly then, moving away from the wall towards the end of the couch, with me still in his arms. "Hmm... quite a fine idea if you ask me." He responded, grinning.
*So, I hadn't seen that one coming...*
I narrowed my eyes at him. "That may be fine for you, but I'm too tired to be married." I responded without missing a beat. He blinked, gazing askance at me. "Don't you mean too young?" He asked. I shook my head, still holding the level gaze. "No, precisely what I said, too tired to be married, but now that I think of it, I'm too young and too short as well. You see, it just wouldn't work out." I replied with a straight face. He chuckled, quite amused with my odd answer. "Aside from that, aren't you getting tired of carrying me?" I asked him, going on to add, "I'm quite heavy, you know."
Gilderoy shook his head. "You're as light as a feather," he told me, smiling. I didn't believe that for one moment. I know perfectly well how heavy I was. "Lies," I muttered, not exactly belittling myself when I said that. I knew I was average in both height and weight, but I was not egocentric enough to belief I was light. I knew I was at the very least, slightly heavy. Because he'd lied, I decided to move in with a preemptive strike. I began to tickle him, willing to risk his dropping me at that point because we were by the couch anyway.
"Arrgh!" He cried, the both of us tumbling down hard onto the floor. I'd missed the couch by several inches, but at least my ankle had landed on the couch. Part of the plan had worked, except for the part with the throbbing along my elbows, shoulder, and hip. That part had not been part of the plan. "Sod it all..." I groused, rubbing my arm with a slight wince. I glanced over at Gilderoy, poking him gently on the shoulder. "I didn't kill you did I?" I asked.
He managed to get into a sitting position then. "No, but my pain in my limbs would suggest otherwise." He responded, glancing over at me, still slightly amused. "Desperate times called for desperate measures." I told him, as if that would explain everything. He just shook his head, muttering, "You win."
*I do so love it when I win.*