The Trouble With People
Disclaimer: HP doesn't belong to me! DUH!
Summery: Adelaide and Roux are two teens that don't have any direction in their lives, until they both end up exchanging at Hogwarts. Will the culture shock show them what they want? Or will they just end up wanting each other?
Chapter Three
Adelaide stood in line for United Airlines, waiting to check her large trunk. She was deeply immersed in her Blink 182 CD, and as she rocked her head and rapped her fingers and she was suddenly glad to be leaving. She started to think about all the things she wouldn't miss, like Marta Ambrose, the biggest bitch in the world, and captain of the West house quidditch team. Marta would probably be glad not to have Adelaide on South's team, too, because at the final game of last year she had been dismounted from her broom by a bludgers to the head, courtesy of our friend Ms. Monroe.
Finally Adelaide reached the front of the line, and the perky worker smiled and asked her routine questions. "Did you pack your bag? Has you bag been out of your hands over the past twenty-four hours?" Adelaide resisted the urge to be a smart mouth, and simply said yes and no to all questions that applied. When Perky asked to see her ticket, she presented it like any other average flyer.
Adelaide had been pissed that she had to fly, but she really had no say in it. She remembered the argument (among others) with her mother. Her mother's hair had been frizzy, and her double chin wobbled back and forth as she shook her head. "You are not broomsticking over there young lady, nor are you taken some exploding bus. No no no no no no no. I have booked you a plane ticket, and that is that. Besides, if you rack up those miles I can go to Aruba."
Now Perky was frowning. "I'm very sorry, but it appears we have oversold that flight. We're not going to be able to put you on that plane."
Adelaide resisted the strong urge to run around screaming, "Fuck!" at the top of her lungs, but instead she breathed deep and played with the stud on her tongue, before speaking. "Then how the hell am I supposed to get to England so I can bloody attend SCHOOL lady?"
Perky's smile stayed plastered on her face. "If it isn't a problem, there is a flight that is leaving at one AM this morning, but as compensation we will bump you up to first class, is that all right?"
Suddenly, flying didn't seem so horrible anymore. Adelaide just smiled, and nodded enthusiastically. Smiling back, Perky asked to see her passport. Adelaide presented it, and she was then allowed through. First class flying into London! Perhaps this really would be a good trip.
Roux's odious mother gathered him in her arms and started crying. "My baby boy going off to Hoglstorts! Oh it seems just yesterday you were a baby in my arms! And I always thought you'd be off to Oxford if you were going to England!"
"Pipe down, mum," Roux said as he pulled out of her arms, not bothering to correct her. His mother was what most would call "High maintenance", with her perfectly golden tan, manicured nails, and bleached blonde hair. She was ridiculously proud of her son and blind to any of his shortcomings. She had also insisted that he fly, and Roux only gave in when she said he could fly first class. She had also given him an awesome sum of American dollars, to change into 'those wizard coin things' when he arrived. Roux was excited; perhaps he could buy an owl!
"Be good, honey!" his mother beamed as Roux went through the gates where only passengers could go. He was a little overwhelmed; the New York airport was bigger than he had remembered. Through all the crowds he searched for gate B43, and eventually (with the help of a few airport employees) he found it, and it was utterly deserted. He wasn't surprised, seeing as it was midnight. There was only one person there, a small punky looking girl with black blue hair. Roux, who hated being alone, went and sat next to her.
When Roux sat down by her, Adelaide was thoroughly pissed off. There were at least forty other open seats, why did he have to sit by her? Glaring, she returned to her book "Advanced Transfiguration for the Sixth Year N.E.W.T. Student". She thought it would be safe to read, as long as she told anyone interested she was in a cult.
Roux looked at her book and smiled. He had been meaning to buy that book; it was one that was required for Hogwarts curriculum. He began reading over Adelaide's shoulder, which pissed her off even more.
"Look do you have some sort of needy disorder where you have to have attention?" She spat at him, wishing to be alone. She gesticulated, opening her arms wide, demonstrating the space. "There are forty other seats here and you sit right next to me! I could handle that if suddenly you didn't start reading over my shoulder and breathing down my neck!"
"Uh, sorry," Roux apologized; realizing he probably did come off as a creep. "My name is Roux."
"And I'm the pope," snapped Adelaide, thoroughly uninterested. Would anyone see if she transfigured him into a toad? She had kept her wand in her sleeve just in case...
"Oh so you're Catholic? It's strange for a Catholic to be reading a book on Transfiguration," Roux smiled as Adelaide's eyebrows rose as he spoke. "Don't try to pull the wool over my eyes, it's quite clear you're a witch."
"Shut it," Adelaide turned to him. "Do you want someone to fucking hear you?"
"It's ok, I'm a wizard," Roux smiled and extended his hand.
"No you're not, you're an idiot," Adelaide flipped her wand out of her sleeve a little (8 inches, ebony, Veela hair), just enough for her to grasp it. Quietly, she whispered a handy little spell Willa had taught her. "Microccio."
"Now you can talk," she smiled, looking over her book. She was glad that the exchange had permitted her to do magic over the summer vacation. It had come in handy many times when her mother wanted her to clean. "Only I can hear what you're saying, and vice-a-versa."
"What if someone asks me the time?" For some reason this problem seemed to be very urgent right now for Roux.
"Pretend you're deaf," Adelaide rolled her eyes. "You're not very bright are you?"
"On the contrary..." Roux was about to speak up when Adelaide yawned.
"You're boring me," She replaced her headphones on her ears, and turned up the volume. No sound came out of the headphones. She looked to see if they were plugged in, and they were. The CD player appeared to be in perfect working order, but no sound was coming out. Then Adelaide remembered; the spell! 'No big deal,' she thought, 'I've just got to do the counter curse.'
She took out her wand, and flicked it around. 'What is the counter curse?' Adelaide closed her eyes and sighed, she'd forgotten it. She turned to Roux, and he was smiling at her with a somewhat amused smirk.
"What's the counter curse?" Adelaide asked, obviously displeased in asking the stranger for help.
"Oh I don't know," Roux exaggerated his voice, and Adelaide looked like she was about to kill him.
"Fine," She got up. "Maybe a drink will help me remember."
She walked to the bathroom where she could sum up anything she desired with the flick of her wand. She decided pumpkin juice would be nice, and after a few moments of making sure she was alone she conjured a goblet. The icy cool juice was lovely as it went down her throat, but the sensation was interrupted by Roux's voice.
"I could go for some pumpkin juice, too," Adelaide spat out the juice in a huge misty spray, and looked around.
"You creep!" She screamed, as she started to check the stalls. "What are you doing in the girl's bathroom?"
"I'm not," Adelaide stared at the ceiling. "I'm at gate B43."
"Then why can I still hear you PERFECTLY," Adelaide said, exasperated.
"Because the spell you used is like a magic set of walkie talkies. I can hear you, and you can hear me wherever you go. You could be in Sweden and you'd still hear me," Roux then proceeded to laugh, and Adelaide was on the brink of having a fit. She locked herself in the disabled stall, and started to stomp around.
"Bastard, bastard, BASTARD!" There was something different about the last bastard, it echoed around the acoustics of the empty bathroom, and Adelaide sat down on the pot. He'd removed the spell then. She felt one last bastard was necessary. "BASTARD!"
She exited the stall, and went to stand in front of the mirror. As she stared at her tired reflection, she looked down to the other end. Standing there was a very confused looking woman, who had obviously slipped in while she was having a fit. Adelaide washed her hands silently, not making eye contact. She then gave the lady, who was still staring, a huge warm smile. "Excuse me."
Adelaide left in a huff, and returned as fast as she could to gate B43. Sure enough, there was Roux, sitting in the same seat, listening to her CD player. She snatched off the headphones, and pushed him. "You are so annoying!"
"Are you going to tell me your name then?" Roux smiled like a cat that just ate the cream. Adelaide glared back in return.
"No," She snapped, and she picked up her baggage and was about to walk over and sit at the other end of the seating area when there was an announcement.
"Now boarding first class for flight 148 to London, England, now boarding," Adelaide instead walked to the person who had made the announcement, and handed him the boarding pass.
"Right them, you're seat A5. Enjoy you're flight!"
"Thanks," muttered Adelaide, and she entered the hall that was connected to the plane.
Roux also approached the boarding area, and handed the man his boarding pass. "And you are A7, have a nice flight!"
"Thank you!" Roux replied, with much more gusto that Adelaide. He followed her onto the plane.
Once inside, Roux found his seat. It was an isle seat, and it was right across from Adelaide's row. She had a window seat.
Not five minutes after they had boarded, the woman from the bathroom stumbled onto the plane. She walked past the first isle and stood in front of the empty seat next to Adelaide. Adelaide was immersed in her music, and her intense stare was focusing outside the window. The woman looked worried, and she turned to Roux. "I'll trade you seats."
Roux smirked at the young lady, and happily accepted. "Ok."
Adelaide was slightly aware of some movement to her right, but was determined to continue to stare out the window. She suddenly felt someone tap her on the shoulder, and as if it was a great weight she turned her head to see Roux sitting beside her. "So are you going to tell me your name?"
Defeated and angry, Adelaide huffed. "It's Adelaide, creep."
"You're so cute when you're angry," Roux grinned, and pulled out the magazine in the pocket ahead of him. Adelaide resisted the urge to say "shut up," and she continued to stare out the window. It was going to be a long flight.
Disclaimer: HP doesn't belong to me! DUH!
Summery: Adelaide and Roux are two teens that don't have any direction in their lives, until they both end up exchanging at Hogwarts. Will the culture shock show them what they want? Or will they just end up wanting each other?
Chapter Three
Adelaide stood in line for United Airlines, waiting to check her large trunk. She was deeply immersed in her Blink 182 CD, and as she rocked her head and rapped her fingers and she was suddenly glad to be leaving. She started to think about all the things she wouldn't miss, like Marta Ambrose, the biggest bitch in the world, and captain of the West house quidditch team. Marta would probably be glad not to have Adelaide on South's team, too, because at the final game of last year she had been dismounted from her broom by a bludgers to the head, courtesy of our friend Ms. Monroe.
Finally Adelaide reached the front of the line, and the perky worker smiled and asked her routine questions. "Did you pack your bag? Has you bag been out of your hands over the past twenty-four hours?" Adelaide resisted the urge to be a smart mouth, and simply said yes and no to all questions that applied. When Perky asked to see her ticket, she presented it like any other average flyer.
Adelaide had been pissed that she had to fly, but she really had no say in it. She remembered the argument (among others) with her mother. Her mother's hair had been frizzy, and her double chin wobbled back and forth as she shook her head. "You are not broomsticking over there young lady, nor are you taken some exploding bus. No no no no no no no. I have booked you a plane ticket, and that is that. Besides, if you rack up those miles I can go to Aruba."
Now Perky was frowning. "I'm very sorry, but it appears we have oversold that flight. We're not going to be able to put you on that plane."
Adelaide resisted the strong urge to run around screaming, "Fuck!" at the top of her lungs, but instead she breathed deep and played with the stud on her tongue, before speaking. "Then how the hell am I supposed to get to England so I can bloody attend SCHOOL lady?"
Perky's smile stayed plastered on her face. "If it isn't a problem, there is a flight that is leaving at one AM this morning, but as compensation we will bump you up to first class, is that all right?"
Suddenly, flying didn't seem so horrible anymore. Adelaide just smiled, and nodded enthusiastically. Smiling back, Perky asked to see her passport. Adelaide presented it, and she was then allowed through. First class flying into London! Perhaps this really would be a good trip.
Roux's odious mother gathered him in her arms and started crying. "My baby boy going off to Hoglstorts! Oh it seems just yesterday you were a baby in my arms! And I always thought you'd be off to Oxford if you were going to England!"
"Pipe down, mum," Roux said as he pulled out of her arms, not bothering to correct her. His mother was what most would call "High maintenance", with her perfectly golden tan, manicured nails, and bleached blonde hair. She was ridiculously proud of her son and blind to any of his shortcomings. She had also insisted that he fly, and Roux only gave in when she said he could fly first class. She had also given him an awesome sum of American dollars, to change into 'those wizard coin things' when he arrived. Roux was excited; perhaps he could buy an owl!
"Be good, honey!" his mother beamed as Roux went through the gates where only passengers could go. He was a little overwhelmed; the New York airport was bigger than he had remembered. Through all the crowds he searched for gate B43, and eventually (with the help of a few airport employees) he found it, and it was utterly deserted. He wasn't surprised, seeing as it was midnight. There was only one person there, a small punky looking girl with black blue hair. Roux, who hated being alone, went and sat next to her.
When Roux sat down by her, Adelaide was thoroughly pissed off. There were at least forty other open seats, why did he have to sit by her? Glaring, she returned to her book "Advanced Transfiguration for the Sixth Year N.E.W.T. Student". She thought it would be safe to read, as long as she told anyone interested she was in a cult.
Roux looked at her book and smiled. He had been meaning to buy that book; it was one that was required for Hogwarts curriculum. He began reading over Adelaide's shoulder, which pissed her off even more.
"Look do you have some sort of needy disorder where you have to have attention?" She spat at him, wishing to be alone. She gesticulated, opening her arms wide, demonstrating the space. "There are forty other seats here and you sit right next to me! I could handle that if suddenly you didn't start reading over my shoulder and breathing down my neck!"
"Uh, sorry," Roux apologized; realizing he probably did come off as a creep. "My name is Roux."
"And I'm the pope," snapped Adelaide, thoroughly uninterested. Would anyone see if she transfigured him into a toad? She had kept her wand in her sleeve just in case...
"Oh so you're Catholic? It's strange for a Catholic to be reading a book on Transfiguration," Roux smiled as Adelaide's eyebrows rose as he spoke. "Don't try to pull the wool over my eyes, it's quite clear you're a witch."
"Shut it," Adelaide turned to him. "Do you want someone to fucking hear you?"
"It's ok, I'm a wizard," Roux smiled and extended his hand.
"No you're not, you're an idiot," Adelaide flipped her wand out of her sleeve a little (8 inches, ebony, Veela hair), just enough for her to grasp it. Quietly, she whispered a handy little spell Willa had taught her. "Microccio."
"Now you can talk," she smiled, looking over her book. She was glad that the exchange had permitted her to do magic over the summer vacation. It had come in handy many times when her mother wanted her to clean. "Only I can hear what you're saying, and vice-a-versa."
"What if someone asks me the time?" For some reason this problem seemed to be very urgent right now for Roux.
"Pretend you're deaf," Adelaide rolled her eyes. "You're not very bright are you?"
"On the contrary..." Roux was about to speak up when Adelaide yawned.
"You're boring me," She replaced her headphones on her ears, and turned up the volume. No sound came out of the headphones. She looked to see if they were plugged in, and they were. The CD player appeared to be in perfect working order, but no sound was coming out. Then Adelaide remembered; the spell! 'No big deal,' she thought, 'I've just got to do the counter curse.'
She took out her wand, and flicked it around. 'What is the counter curse?' Adelaide closed her eyes and sighed, she'd forgotten it. She turned to Roux, and he was smiling at her with a somewhat amused smirk.
"What's the counter curse?" Adelaide asked, obviously displeased in asking the stranger for help.
"Oh I don't know," Roux exaggerated his voice, and Adelaide looked like she was about to kill him.
"Fine," She got up. "Maybe a drink will help me remember."
She walked to the bathroom where she could sum up anything she desired with the flick of her wand. She decided pumpkin juice would be nice, and after a few moments of making sure she was alone she conjured a goblet. The icy cool juice was lovely as it went down her throat, but the sensation was interrupted by Roux's voice.
"I could go for some pumpkin juice, too," Adelaide spat out the juice in a huge misty spray, and looked around.
"You creep!" She screamed, as she started to check the stalls. "What are you doing in the girl's bathroom?"
"I'm not," Adelaide stared at the ceiling. "I'm at gate B43."
"Then why can I still hear you PERFECTLY," Adelaide said, exasperated.
"Because the spell you used is like a magic set of walkie talkies. I can hear you, and you can hear me wherever you go. You could be in Sweden and you'd still hear me," Roux then proceeded to laugh, and Adelaide was on the brink of having a fit. She locked herself in the disabled stall, and started to stomp around.
"Bastard, bastard, BASTARD!" There was something different about the last bastard, it echoed around the acoustics of the empty bathroom, and Adelaide sat down on the pot. He'd removed the spell then. She felt one last bastard was necessary. "BASTARD!"
She exited the stall, and went to stand in front of the mirror. As she stared at her tired reflection, she looked down to the other end. Standing there was a very confused looking woman, who had obviously slipped in while she was having a fit. Adelaide washed her hands silently, not making eye contact. She then gave the lady, who was still staring, a huge warm smile. "Excuse me."
Adelaide left in a huff, and returned as fast as she could to gate B43. Sure enough, there was Roux, sitting in the same seat, listening to her CD player. She snatched off the headphones, and pushed him. "You are so annoying!"
"Are you going to tell me your name then?" Roux smiled like a cat that just ate the cream. Adelaide glared back in return.
"No," She snapped, and she picked up her baggage and was about to walk over and sit at the other end of the seating area when there was an announcement.
"Now boarding first class for flight 148 to London, England, now boarding," Adelaide instead walked to the person who had made the announcement, and handed him the boarding pass.
"Right them, you're seat A5. Enjoy you're flight!"
"Thanks," muttered Adelaide, and she entered the hall that was connected to the plane.
Roux also approached the boarding area, and handed the man his boarding pass. "And you are A7, have a nice flight!"
"Thank you!" Roux replied, with much more gusto that Adelaide. He followed her onto the plane.
Once inside, Roux found his seat. It was an isle seat, and it was right across from Adelaide's row. She had a window seat.
Not five minutes after they had boarded, the woman from the bathroom stumbled onto the plane. She walked past the first isle and stood in front of the empty seat next to Adelaide. Adelaide was immersed in her music, and her intense stare was focusing outside the window. The woman looked worried, and she turned to Roux. "I'll trade you seats."
Roux smirked at the young lady, and happily accepted. "Ok."
Adelaide was slightly aware of some movement to her right, but was determined to continue to stare out the window. She suddenly felt someone tap her on the shoulder, and as if it was a great weight she turned her head to see Roux sitting beside her. "So are you going to tell me your name?"
Defeated and angry, Adelaide huffed. "It's Adelaide, creep."
"You're so cute when you're angry," Roux grinned, and pulled out the magazine in the pocket ahead of him. Adelaide resisted the urge to say "shut up," and she continued to stare out the window. It was going to be a long flight.