Chris - got your letter last week, eternally sweet. Miss you too but have been terribly busy getting into it, NEWTS already seem daunting to me.
Got a little tipsy with some strawberry wine and the girls last night. Learned more things about Angelina and Katie than I care to know - I now know enough about Ang and Fred's *ahem* habits, that would turn your hair grey. But I'll preserve your modesty and not pass it on - I'm still trying to Obliviate myself. Promise me we'll never advertise quite like that, all right? Good luck (well, not TOO much luck) in training. Please try to stay away from rogue Bludgers, preserve your parts for my sake at least.
Yours, Alicia.
He had received the letter last night and it now lay in the hidden drawer of his bedside table. Chris rolled over in bed, the morning light filtering through the window next to his bed. He was having a bit of a lie in before taking his shower, and using the time to think.
He had known Alicia Spinnet for, well - as long as he could remember. Their families both had summering houses in Devon and he had played with the young blonde girl on the beach since they both could toddle, under the careful watch of their nannies to ensure they stayed away from the cliffs. When they had gone to Hogwarts it was really so surprise where they were sorted - both families were legacies in their respective Houses. So the two, so close for their childhood, had begun writing to one another. Bad and gloomy days were somehow made sunny with a short note from Alicia. At first it had only been friendship, a friendly rivalry when they first played Quidditch against one another in their 2nd year. He still couldn't define in his mind when their relationship had turned from one of innocence to one of innuendo.
It may have been the summer of fourth year - his family had been delayed leaving the city for a week or two and when he had arrived and run down to the beach in search of her, he had been very suprised to see the way she was now filling out her bikini suit. But no matter what, this summer had been a clear turning point in their, well - whatever it was. They had kissed, more than once, and he had managed to feel how well she had filled out, but both knew as long as they were at Hogwarts, it would be too difficult to try and sustain a romantic relationship. So he was waiting. Waiting for each letter he got, now much more affectionate and waiting for the end of his year. When he could start the rest of his life - hopefully with her.
Chris shook himself out of his contemplative mood, no use getting maudlin. He swung his feet over the edge of his bed and tugging at his boxers to sit properly on his hips made his way to the bathroom to tend to his natural instincts. He nodded to Neil on the way, who was sitting at his desk, feet propped up at the edge as he flipped through the morning Prophet.
Neil scanned the headlines, then financial pages. There was an article about Hogwarts and the appointment of Umbridge as High Inquisitor but as long as she didn't seriously interfere with the Slytherin House he would pay the hag no mind. He checked the price of the Galleon and read on to the lastest appointments and financial movements. He would never admit, but he sneeked a peak at the gossip section, to see who had been at the latest parties. He was giving the Page 5 Witch an appreciative eye when there was a knock at the door to the dorm. Adrian may have been closer, but the drapes to his bed were fully closed so Neil sighed and rose to answer the knock.
He looked forward and then down, "Hello Malfoy."
Neil leaned casually against the doorframe, giving slight nods to the two overgrown puppies flanking Draco. He raised an eyebrow - "What do you want?"
Draco gulped, but stood straight and made eye contact with Neil "We'd like to speak to the Captain, sir. We want to know when practise will be today."
Neil frowned, running a hand through his hair. "Fine then, come in." He led the three into the little anteroom into the dorm and pointed to the chairs there. "Wait here." He sauntered into the dorm proper and turned the corner, out of sight of the the younger boys.
So they sat. Crabbe fidgeted in his chair, kicking the leg with his heel until Draco hissed at him to desist. They sat for another fifteen minutes.
Neil and Chris chuckled to themselves as they shaved at the sinks, Edward in the shower, humming the latest Weird Sisters hit under his breath as he rinsed his hair.
Ten minutes later, Sheraton sauntered into the anteroom, dressed in a loose pair of silky green pyjama pants with a black tank top, a black silk robe draped casually over her shoulders, her hair immaculate even though it was barely past 10 in the morning.
Draco couldn't help but stare as he noticed how the pants seemed to barely sit above her hips, grazing the curve of her bottom and licked his lips as she came to a stop in front of them.
"What're you three doing sitting here?" she asked, crossing her arms across her chest.
On either side, Crabbe and Goyle stared as if entranced. To Draco, the difference between fifth and seventh year girls never seemed like such a vast difference until now, looking at the girl - no, woman in front of him.
He swallowed, trying to remain focussed on her eyes as he spoke. "We're waiting to talk to the Quidditch Captain, ma'am." He made sure to be respectful considering both her status within the house and her close relationship with the hardest teacher in the school.
She made an annoyed noise, "Don't call me ma'am, Malfoy." Her eyes narrowed as she looked at his companions. "Crabbe! Goyle! My eyes are clearly a good foot above your gaze!" Draco elbowed them hastily and she laid a smirk on both. "Don't make me take points from my own house, children."
Draco bristled at being addressed so but stayed silent as she continued into the dorms, running into Edward in the doorway. He smiled at her, lazily finishing tying his own pants closed. "What brings you here this morning, my dear?" he drawled.
"Making sure all you louts are out of bed on time of course," she answered. "Make sure to be at brunch, will you - we have something to discuss with the House afterwards." She reached out a slim hand to run through his still slightly dripping hair and ruffled it with a grin.
He smiled back before turning to see the three fifth years. "What do you want?" he asked crossly.
"We're, um, waiting to see you Captain," Draco answered promptly. "We'd like to know when practise will be."
"At three today - I was going to tell you at brunch. Don't come and bother me for things like that. If you want to talk to me, you'll have to make an appointment at the next meal."
"Appointment?" Sheraton asked with a snicker. "Are you a dentist now?" she asked from where she had flopped down on Mile's bed, using his legs as a prop for her elbow.
"Arg, Sheraton - geroff!" He sat up and pushed at her, she just inclined her head to smile at him and he, grumbling, lay back down, pulling a pillow over his head.
"No, I'm a busy man!" Edward protested, his fists on his hips. Annoyed at Sheraton's bossyness he turned back to Draco and company. "And what are you still doing here! Get out!" the three hastily scrambled out, not closing the door behind him.
Warrington wandered out of the bathroom then clutched his towel to him upon catching sight of Sheraton. "Sher! Merlin - can't you give a man a bit of warning?!"
Sheraton rolled her eyes, "Since when did you all appoint yourselves men?! I'll be the judge of that I think. Oh - stop blushing Chris, I'm not here to attack your precious modesty and virtue. Step lightly then boys," she rose from Miles bed, pulling the pillow from his grasp and dropping a kiss to his cheek. She sauntered over to the still closed curtains of Adrian's bed and pulled them swiftly apart. "Rise and shine, Pucey!" she sang cheekily, then moved to the door. "Brunch is in an hour - be there promptly!" She exited, closing the door behind her.
Neil snickered from the bathroom door, brushing his teeth. "That girl is a force of nature for sure."
"I still don't see why she couldn't have sent Ian to get us up," Chris grumbled as he pulled on a pair of boxers and pants. He levelled a look at Edward and Miles, "Though you two didn't seem to mind it."
Both boys grinned lecherously, then caught sight of each other's expression.
"Oi!" Miles shot up in bed to stare at his best friend. "You slept with Sheraton?!"
A look of horror came over Edward's face. "What's it to you?" He demanded, attempting to recover his dignity after the last expresion which had crossed his face.
Miles was out of his bed and across the room, completely oblivious of the room's other three occupants watching with a mixture of horror and facination at the thought of Sheraton sleeping with anyone. "Because ... well ... I ..." Suddenly Miles seemed to be at a loss for words.
"It was YOU!?" Edward's eyes were the size of dinner plates.
Chris chose this moment to interject, his face a tribute to astonishment. "Wait a second, wait a second, you mean to say you took Sheraton's -"
"Don't! Just don't!" He was cut off by Ed's hand interjecting forcefully.
"Will you all just SHUT UP!" Pucey bolted upright, his glare diminshed by his bleary eyes and sleep tousled state. "What does it matter who took Sheraton's-"
"DON'T!" The three other Quidditch players roared at him.
Neil chuckled to himself, as he turned the page of his paper.
Unaware that her virginity - or lack thereof, was the subject of such a heated debate, Sheraton gave a perfunctory rap to the door of the girls' dorm before stepping in. At least everyone here was already up - oh, nope, Sheraton amended her original thought when she peered through to Jasmine's bed and saw the still figure within. She snorted in a lady like fashion, moving past Cordelia who was alphabetizing her lipsticks and nodding to Aemelia, who was ensconced in an arm chair with a copy of Witch Weekly and a cup of tea, Earl Gray to Sheraton's trained nose. She meandered up next to Jasmine's bed and drew the curtain aside, leaning down to comment into Jas's ear: "Wow, you even sleep with your legs open."
"Screw you, Snape," Jasmine grumbled and rolled over.
"We've had this conversation Jas and I'm still really not that interested." Sheraton sat upon the edge of the bed and threw the covers off her friend.
Jasmine lifted her head just enough to glare at her so called best friend. "Leave me be, for Merlin's sake. I had a long and trying night."
"If by trying you mean shagging Pucey's brains out - or what brains he may have had, the Wizengamot's still out on that one, my sympathy is non-existent. You need to be at brunch in 45 minutes flat, so move your lazy ass."
Jasmine sat up slowly, rubbing at her eyes. "You know, you weren't so much of a bitch before you were a Prefect."
"Yes I was, I just didn't have the authority to exert like I do now. Move it." Sheraton leaned over to tussle Jasmine's golden hair, usually so perfectly arranged and now rather resembling a haystack, and hopped off the bed. Aemelia was pulling on a over robe when Sheraton stopped by her section of the room, leaning against the armoire. She eyed the bright purple and black zebra knit dress with a curious eye. "Picked that up over the summer did you?" she asked skeptically.
"Mm-hmm," Aemelia replied, stepping into black pumps. "I figure I may as well make an
impression our first brunch, y'know?"
"Oh you will dear," Sheraton said with a slight roll to her eye and lightly dodged the thrown hair
brush. "I had best be changed as well, we'll meet in the Common Room at five to." With a nod to
Cordelia, who was fussing with her hair, she strolled down the corridor to her own suite. Julian's door
was ajar, and closer, so she veered in.
And stopped. Julian was standing at the large table he'd had brought in, covered in potions ingredients and a bubbling cauldron or two. He moved around slowly, wearing only a pair of loose striped pyjama pants - in which she couldn't help but admire the posterior view.
Julian had arrived for the sixth year of study transformed. The gawky, geeky boy who had left in June was replaced by a tall and lanky Roman god. His blue, bedroom eyes and thoughtful way about him had set many a heart, Slytherin or no, a flutter. Even Sheraton had not been immune. Her playful best friend was a sex god - she would've had to be stark blind not to notice. Ironically, the shirt to the pants he was wearing right now, had been in her posession since the previous June. She had 'borrowed' it as a reminder for the summer, and it had retained his smell all the way up through late August. He turned then and noticed her, giving her a bright smile that twisted at her stomach.
"Morning, love," he greeted her quietly, pouring one vial into another - the colour becoming a bright green, then becoming translucent.
"Morning," she stepped up beside him and kissed his shoulder - he had an easy 10 inches on her now. "Do I even want to know what you're up to?"
"Don't worry, it's not terribly illegal - well, it actually is but who's going to tell on me? It's just for the Quidditch parties, a bit of my own home brew."
She gave him a wide eyed look, "Your ancestors must be spinning in their graves to know such a scion of theirs is bootlegging."
He shrugged, "Cheaper than having it shipped. How long till breakfast?"
She peeked at her watch and sighed - "Half an hour now, I'd best put myself to rights."
"What's to fix?" he asked easily and chuckled at the light smack she delivered to his arm.
"If you're not careful, such flattery will get you everywhere, Higgs," she called over her shoulder as she moved to her rooms through the bathroom.
He grinned to himself. "I'll have to be extra reckless then."