Chapter 12 – The Consequences for Ruining Valentine's Day

Rachel reentered the dorm at an ungodly hour, her nose ballooning slightly. She shook Liz awake and asked what had happened to the common room.

"I got mad and the cake exploded."

"Oh. Powers, huh?"

"Yeah. How's Michael?"

"He's back to normal, except for this one patch of blue on his ear. It looks like his ear is oozing blueberry juice. But other than that, he's fine. He left before I did, saying something about killing his uncles. I don't blame him, really. How could they do that to their nephew?"

"I don't know. They're strange people."

The next day was a trip to Hogsmeade, fortunately for Michael. The three of them barged into Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes together to see Fred Weasley standing behind the counter, selling Ton-Tongue Toffees to a Hogwarts sixth- year. His face lit up when he saw them, and then it fell when he spotted Michael's ear. "You didn't eat the cake?"

"I did. How could you buy a cursed cake?"

"First, I didn't buy the cake. George did. Second, we didn't buy it like that. We put the spell on it. And third, I gave you a note explaining what it did. We thought it was funny, and we thought you'd like it too."

"You didn't give me a note!"

"It was in the envelope I gave you with your change."

"You expected me to open that? I stuffed it in my pocket and forgot about it! And I had Rachel's birthday wish scrolling across my head!"

"Sorry, Michael. I'll tell you what; I'll give you three free bags of Levitating Gumballs. On the house." He shuddered. "Or your mum will have my neck."

"She's already on a rampage as it is," Rachel said. Fred paled at these words.

"All right, take your gumballs and be off. You'll want to get some things from Honeydukes and Zonko's, I imagine. Don't forget to mention to your mum that everything's all right now. She's just like your grandmother, you know." And he cringed again. "Hurry along, and I'll see you later."

As they walked out, Rachel noticed that Michael's face had frozen with a disbelieving expression on it. "What's wrong, Michael?" she asked.

"He's right," Michael said simply.

"About what?" said Liz.

"Mum is like grandmother."

They spent the rest of the day going in and out of different shops and trying out the levitating gumballs. Michael gave on bag each to Rachel and Liz, and they had great fun with it. They stopped when Rachel neared the roof of the Shrieking Shack and laughed so hard that she swallowed her gum and plummeted to the ground.

After a few days, none of the Gryffindors who had swallowed the cake were still abnormal colors except one fifth-year who had a dot of green on the tip of his nose. He spent most mealtimes asked his friends if they thought people would believe he dipped it in limejuice. He was doing that the night Professor Weasley stood to make an announcement.

"The Valentine's Day Dance," she said (several people eagerly held their breath), "has been reinstated."

A cheer rose up from the student population. Liz felt like cheering herself. Now people couldn't continue to be mad at her for what had happened in first-year. Well, one person could. As Liz left the Great Hall, Bettie Hess stuck her foot out so Liz would trip on it. Liz noticed just in time and stepped right over it. She turned back and smiled at Bettie, who gave her an equally icy smile back.

"How can she still hate me? It's been two years!" Liz complained to Michael and Rachel on their way back to Gryffindor Tower. "How long can one person hold a grudge?"

"Pretty long, it seems," said Rachel. "So, Michael, who are you asking to the dance?"

"Who says I'm asking someone to the dance? How about if I go alone? Or not go at all?"

"Now, we can't have that," Rachel protested. "What about Alberta?"

"She looks like a horse. And she has a boyfriend."

Rachel was immediately interested. "Really? Who?"

"Keith Dircks."

Rachel snorted. "Figures. How about Desiree?"

"She won't go out with anyone under fourth-year. She's into older guys."

"You say the name of the person who's tried to ruin my life for the past two years, who's not Winnie, and I'll kill you," said Liz.

"Then you've got yourself in a fix, Michael," Rachel shrugged. "Nothing more I can do for you."

"Who're you going with?" Michael asked Rachel. "That fourth-year who asked you last year? Russell—something or other?"

"No, he's too old for me. Desiree can have him." She sighed. "I'll go alone, probably."

"Well, if I'm going alone, and you're going alone, why don't we go alone together? Like we did in first-year? I mean, it makes more sense that way, doesn't it?"

"Sounds good. I'd hate for people to think I'm a wallflower," said Rachel.

"That still leaves me without someone to go with," said Liz.

"John will probably ask you," Rachel said.

"John is a bit odd, if you haven't noticed. He sent me roses in first-year. I was eleven!"

"Aw, that's so sweet," said Rachel.

"No, it's not!" Liz shuddered visibly. "It's...creepy."

"I guess you'll have to go alone, then," said Michael.

"But I don't want to be a wallflower either!" Liz protested.

"Hey, maybe Chris will go with you. You know, as a friend," said Rachel. "Like we're doing."

"It's worth a try," Liz shrugged. "I'll talk to him in—"

"No, wait a minute!" Rachel cried, her face brightening. "I've got an excellent idea! Ask that David Hannigan! You fancy him; it's perfect!"

"No, it's not," said Liz dejectedly. "Bettie Hess already asked him. She was talking about it in the common room last night."

"How could she do that?" Michael said. "Mum didn't announce it until tonight!"

Liz shrugged. "I don't know, I'll ask Chris during Care of Magical Creatures tomorrow."

But Chris, it transpired, could not come to the dance. Hagrid had never fully recovered from his bout of illness in January that had prevented Chris from coming to Rachel's birthday party. He felt worse than ever now, and Chris had to stay and watch over him. "If it's any consolation," said Chris, "I wish I could go. But I can't."

"I understand," said Liz.

Everyone seemed to have a date for the dance. Everyone, that is, except Liz. She found herself watching John, wishing he would ask her so she wouldn't have to go alone. She eventually asked Rachel if he seemed to be gathering his courage to ask her. Rachel winced.

"I've been meaning to talk to you about that," she said, a weak half-grin on her face. "He asked Kristy Culpepper. She's a Hufflepuff. Sorry."

"That's it! I'm just not going!" Liz cried, throwing her lands up in the air. "What's the point? And don't say go alone because I'm not!"

"All right, Liz, you can calm down now. You don't have to go if you don't want to."

Liz breathed deeply and looked at her friend. "Yeah, I guess I don't."

The night of the dance, Liz aided Rachel in getting ready. "I'll be the most beautiful girl at the dance. I only wish you could come, Liz."

"I guess this is what I get for ruining two Valentine's Days in a row. Go on, have a good time. Michael's waiting."

Rachel left and Liz sighed. She was the only one left in the entire Gryffindor Tower. She decided to go down to Hagrid's to see if Chris needed any help, and she decided to take the long way to avoid passing the Great Hall. In the middle of a hallway, she heard voices coming from an unused classroom. She checked inside.

"See, these will be the best prank birthday gifts ever," Winnie was saying to a Slytherin boy named Jimmy Whitmer. "I already tried one on Rachel Yates for her birthday last month. Patsy got me through the window and everything, and it went off without a hitch."

"Who's next on your list?" Jimmy asked.

"Who else? Elizabeth Potter." She smiled evilly. "We're late for the dance. Let's go."

They stashed the bin full of those lobster-like creatures in a cabinet and rushed out while Liz followed them at a distance. She had to tell someone about Winnie's plans.

"Professor Weasley!" she called across the Great Hall. Most people turned to look, as she was practically the only one there not wearing dress robes. Michael's mother came up to her and Liz told her the whole story. The highlight of the evening was seeing Professor Weasley drag Winnie and Jimmy off by their ears. Then Liz noticed that people were still looking at her. She hurried out.

Chris was surprised to see her at the door. "Liz! What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at the dance?"

"I couldn't get a date," she said, trying to sound as if it didn't matter in the least to her. "Where's Hagrid? How's he doing?"

"Come see for yourself," Chris answered grimly.

Hagrid was on his back on the sofa, one arm dangling over the edge. His usually ruddy face was ghastly pale, and he was coughing up a fit. Chris refilled his glass of water and watched while Hagrid practically inhaled it. He grinned weakly at Liz before falling back into his stupor.

"He's been like that for a while. He got worse this afternoon. I told him he should've told McGonagall that he couldn't teach the past few days, but he wouldn't listen."

Liz stayed until almost past curfew, and then she bid Hagrid to feel better and left. A few moments after she had gotten into the dormitory, Rachel and the others came in. Liz pretended to be asleep as Bettie went on and on about the wonderful time she had had with David. She heard Rachel open Liz's hangings to check if she was asleep, and then sigh and get into bed herself.

A/N: Hey, I hope you like it! Please review! And note to Pussin Boots: I got your story, should I proofread it and post it? Credited to you, of course. Just one thing: in the first chapter of the first book it said that Liz is short with blonde hair and blue eyes, like her mother. Just letting you know. I'll look it over, I already read some of it and it sounds really good! PLEASE REVIEW!