On Top of It All
A/N: I realize that in this chapter I put Christ's sake when so many other stories have Merlin's sake or whatever, but since the school does celebrate Christmas so avidly, wouldn't that make them at least part Christian? Anyway, I think so, so.it's Christ's sake, not Merlin's. Sorry. I hope you enjoy this chapter! Thanks for all of the beautiful reviews!
Chapter Four: I Need You
I made my way back up to the castle, watching all of the sickeningly happy couples that made up Hogwarts hang all over each other in the hallways.
There was Malfoy and his shadow, that Parkinson girl. Malfoy was practically dragging the girl who had attached herself to his arm down the hall. It was a fairly amusing sight. If I hadn't been so confused at the moment, I probably would've shot some rude comment at him, but my mind was running a little slow.
Next, there was Diggory and his latest expedition. She was a pretty girl, long brown hair and striking blue eyes, but she seemed to be a lot like Parkinson. Diggory looked as if he couldn't care less about the girl gripping his hand and drooling over him. I was sure that after his little sex-capade that was sure to come tonight, the girl would be gone.
Okay, so Cedric didn't hit me as the kind of guy to use girls for sex, but some nasty rumors had been flowing around the school about him and I couldn't help getting caught up in them. Plus, with that boy's looks, it's not like he couldn't get away with it.
I averted my eyes from the two people and took off up the stairs to Gryffindor Tower. The common room was practically empty, the only exceptions being a few first and third years. I had the urge to run or fly or do anything fast that would allow the sudden pounding in my head to be left behind me.
I ran up to my room and grabbed my enchanted CD player. I wasn't sure if they were allowed on campus, but the muggle contraption had become almost sacred to me in my childhood. Music was a great thing. After choosing a good CD, I ran back down the stairs of the 5th year girls' dormitories and out of the castle.
I ran my heart out as I sprinted across the field, my legs tearing up the ground and my mind clearing of its previous confusion. The only thing left was the music that pounded in my ears giving me the energy to lift my legs over and over again. I ran all the way around the castle, which was probably over a mile, with my left hand scraping against the castle walls. I didn't even realize the cuts that formed or the blood that dripped off my hand. It wasn't that serious, it just surprised me when I finally figured it out, or should I say Malfoy figured it out.
I had closed my eyes sometime throughout my run and half expected myself to run into a wall. That just seemed like something I would do. However, I ran into something a little softer: Parkinson. When my eyes shot open to see the girl lying on the ground covered in mud, I laughed. I couldn't help it; it was funny! I think I even heard Malfoy snort, so I obviously wasn't the only one who thought so.
The girl shot up from the ground and held up her robes, "Look at what you did!"
"Oops," I shrugged my shoulders. "Maybe if you hadn't been so busy concentrating on Malfoy you would've seen me coming."
"What about you, Bell? You didn't even have your eyes open. Trying to push the embarrassing game this morning out of your mind?" Malfoy chuckled. I don't think he was chuckling at his own comment, but at the sight of Pansy covered in mud. It was obnoxious either way.
"A glob of that hair gel you cover your head in is running down the side of your face, Malfoy. You should reconsider walking outside in the rain if you insist on wearing all that crap."
Malfoy turned red and stormed off towards the castle and I laughed. That was too easy. Seriously, if that pain in the ass third year is the future of dark magic, all of the good witches and wizards of the world have absolutely nothing to worry about.
The rest of the day was uneventful. I tried to figure out the points that needed to be scored if we wanted to win the Quidditch Cup and, for a while, I tried to figure out what had happened between Oliver and I earlier. Of course, there was no great breakthrough. I went to bed after I made the brilliant conclusion that what happened in the locker room had only been a friend comforting a friend. What else could it be? We're talking about OLIVER WOOD and ME for Christ's sake.
The next morning, I was awoken in the most annoying way possible: Alicia's way. The girl jumped on the edge of my bed and started jumping up and down on either side of me singing at the top of her lungs.
"Wake up, sleepyhead. Rub your eyes. Get out of bed. It's time for breakfast today!"
I waited there silently, calculating the perfect moment to strike. One. Two. Three. I swept my legs under the covers and caught hers in mid-bounce, making her crumble to the floor.
"Ouch," she complained as she rubbed her head. "Someone's not a morning person."
"It took you five years to realize that?" I mumbled as I climbed out of bed.
"Nah, I already knew it. Get dressed and I'll meet you in the Great Hall," Alicia bounded out of the room and down the steps.
I got dressed, taking my dear old time. I pulled on my black robes, my hair was thrown, as usual, into a messy ponytail on the top of my head, and I was ready to go. Alicia always asked me how I could be ready to leave my room in ten minutes. I don't get it. How can it take someone longer than ten minutes to throw clothes on, clasp a robe, twist a ponytail, and walk out of the door? And she acts like I'm the weird one.
The Great Hall was almost empty by the time I got downstairs. Everyone else had finished eating and rushed off to do something or another. They were probably in Hogsmeade, as it was a Hogsmeade weekend. My day brightened as I remembered that fact; I got to go load up on butterbeer and Soldier Shots. Whoever created those two things should be given a special award.
I ate my breakfast hurriedly (well, more hurriedly than usual, believe it or not) and took off down the hallway to catch a carriage leaving for the wizarding town. I managed to hop into the last carriage before it left and situated myself comfortably in the seat. I looked up to see Cedric Diggory across from me.
I almost gasped as glanced up to see those freakishly gorgeous eyes staring back at me. He knew it too. Of course, the guys with that amount of perfect-ness in them always come with the cockiness. It was well deserved cockiness, but annoying nonetheless.
"Hey, Katie," he smiled kindly at me as our carriage jerked forward.
"Hi, Diggory."
The two of us sat there in silence for a little while and I watched Diggory play with this horribly ugly bracelet on his wrist before I decided to break the silence.
"Not that I'm ungrateful, Diggory, but why did you help me out with the Quidditch match?"
"Our Seeker doesn't wear glasses, obviously," he pointed to his face. "I had to make the playing field even."
"And then you go and catch the Snitch while our Seeker is lying face down in mud?" I raised my eyebrows in amusement as his face turned red.
"You know I didn't do that on purpose, Katie. You know it."
"Yes, Diggory, I was just joking. I know it," I laughed lightly. He was so cute when he got angry! Then again, he was cute either way.
"Do you know how the hell to get this thing off?" Cedric was now yanking furiously at the bracelet attached to his wrist.
"Give me your hand," I held out my own palm and he placed his in it.
The bracelet was a dull brown color and was what seemed to be a metal strap with a clasp on the end. There was a small keyhole -
"Uh oh, Diggory, you got yourself in bad with this one," I sighed as I examined the bracelt.
"What are you talking about?"
"It's a Bonding Band. It's enchanted so that it will not be able to be removed without the key, which the person who gave you the bracelet probably possesses. It bonds you to whoever gave it to you so that after twenty four hours of wearing it, you won't be able to talk to a member of the opposite sex without getting one horrible headache, sometimes worse depending on the conversation and your thoughts. It's a tricky little bugger. I know all about them because of this annoying little prat I- no, forget that. Long story."
"So, how do I get it off, it hurts," he complained.
"You have to get back the key. Who gave it to you?"
"Aurora."
"And that would be?" I raised my eyebrows. It was quite funny, the situation I found myself stuck in. Diggory's woman skills had finally come back to bite him in the ass.
"I've been going out with her for a week," he mumbled as he continued to tug at the bracelet.
"I already told you, yanking at it is pointless. It won't come off."
"But, Katie, if I don't get it off, I wouldn't ever be able to talk to a girl again. I wouldn't even be able to have this conversation with you if what you said was true."
"What a disappointment," my eyes shot open in mock horror.
"Please help me," he whined.
"How could I help you?"
"I need you to convince Rory to give you the key. Please."
"And someone else couldn't help you with this because . . .?"
"All the girls in Hufflepuff are friends with her and all of the guys would never let me hear the end of it. Please, Katie. I need you."
The desperation in his voice was getting to me. Or maybe it was the cute way his nose squinted up when he was begging. I couldn't hold on much longer and I knew it.
"Please?"
"Oh, fine," I snapped. "I help you get the horrid bracelet off."
"Thank you," he sighed in relief and sunk back into his seat.
They always get what they want, no questions asked. Beautiful people.
A/N: I realize that in this chapter I put Christ's sake when so many other stories have Merlin's sake or whatever, but since the school does celebrate Christmas so avidly, wouldn't that make them at least part Christian? Anyway, I think so, so.it's Christ's sake, not Merlin's. Sorry. I hope you enjoy this chapter! Thanks for all of the beautiful reviews!
Chapter Four: I Need You
I made my way back up to the castle, watching all of the sickeningly happy couples that made up Hogwarts hang all over each other in the hallways.
There was Malfoy and his shadow, that Parkinson girl. Malfoy was practically dragging the girl who had attached herself to his arm down the hall. It was a fairly amusing sight. If I hadn't been so confused at the moment, I probably would've shot some rude comment at him, but my mind was running a little slow.
Next, there was Diggory and his latest expedition. She was a pretty girl, long brown hair and striking blue eyes, but she seemed to be a lot like Parkinson. Diggory looked as if he couldn't care less about the girl gripping his hand and drooling over him. I was sure that after his little sex-capade that was sure to come tonight, the girl would be gone.
Okay, so Cedric didn't hit me as the kind of guy to use girls for sex, but some nasty rumors had been flowing around the school about him and I couldn't help getting caught up in them. Plus, with that boy's looks, it's not like he couldn't get away with it.
I averted my eyes from the two people and took off up the stairs to Gryffindor Tower. The common room was practically empty, the only exceptions being a few first and third years. I had the urge to run or fly or do anything fast that would allow the sudden pounding in my head to be left behind me.
I ran up to my room and grabbed my enchanted CD player. I wasn't sure if they were allowed on campus, but the muggle contraption had become almost sacred to me in my childhood. Music was a great thing. After choosing a good CD, I ran back down the stairs of the 5th year girls' dormitories and out of the castle.
I ran my heart out as I sprinted across the field, my legs tearing up the ground and my mind clearing of its previous confusion. The only thing left was the music that pounded in my ears giving me the energy to lift my legs over and over again. I ran all the way around the castle, which was probably over a mile, with my left hand scraping against the castle walls. I didn't even realize the cuts that formed or the blood that dripped off my hand. It wasn't that serious, it just surprised me when I finally figured it out, or should I say Malfoy figured it out.
I had closed my eyes sometime throughout my run and half expected myself to run into a wall. That just seemed like something I would do. However, I ran into something a little softer: Parkinson. When my eyes shot open to see the girl lying on the ground covered in mud, I laughed. I couldn't help it; it was funny! I think I even heard Malfoy snort, so I obviously wasn't the only one who thought so.
The girl shot up from the ground and held up her robes, "Look at what you did!"
"Oops," I shrugged my shoulders. "Maybe if you hadn't been so busy concentrating on Malfoy you would've seen me coming."
"What about you, Bell? You didn't even have your eyes open. Trying to push the embarrassing game this morning out of your mind?" Malfoy chuckled. I don't think he was chuckling at his own comment, but at the sight of Pansy covered in mud. It was obnoxious either way.
"A glob of that hair gel you cover your head in is running down the side of your face, Malfoy. You should reconsider walking outside in the rain if you insist on wearing all that crap."
Malfoy turned red and stormed off towards the castle and I laughed. That was too easy. Seriously, if that pain in the ass third year is the future of dark magic, all of the good witches and wizards of the world have absolutely nothing to worry about.
The rest of the day was uneventful. I tried to figure out the points that needed to be scored if we wanted to win the Quidditch Cup and, for a while, I tried to figure out what had happened between Oliver and I earlier. Of course, there was no great breakthrough. I went to bed after I made the brilliant conclusion that what happened in the locker room had only been a friend comforting a friend. What else could it be? We're talking about OLIVER WOOD and ME for Christ's sake.
The next morning, I was awoken in the most annoying way possible: Alicia's way. The girl jumped on the edge of my bed and started jumping up and down on either side of me singing at the top of her lungs.
"Wake up, sleepyhead. Rub your eyes. Get out of bed. It's time for breakfast today!"
I waited there silently, calculating the perfect moment to strike. One. Two. Three. I swept my legs under the covers and caught hers in mid-bounce, making her crumble to the floor.
"Ouch," she complained as she rubbed her head. "Someone's not a morning person."
"It took you five years to realize that?" I mumbled as I climbed out of bed.
"Nah, I already knew it. Get dressed and I'll meet you in the Great Hall," Alicia bounded out of the room and down the steps.
I got dressed, taking my dear old time. I pulled on my black robes, my hair was thrown, as usual, into a messy ponytail on the top of my head, and I was ready to go. Alicia always asked me how I could be ready to leave my room in ten minutes. I don't get it. How can it take someone longer than ten minutes to throw clothes on, clasp a robe, twist a ponytail, and walk out of the door? And she acts like I'm the weird one.
The Great Hall was almost empty by the time I got downstairs. Everyone else had finished eating and rushed off to do something or another. They were probably in Hogsmeade, as it was a Hogsmeade weekend. My day brightened as I remembered that fact; I got to go load up on butterbeer and Soldier Shots. Whoever created those two things should be given a special award.
I ate my breakfast hurriedly (well, more hurriedly than usual, believe it or not) and took off down the hallway to catch a carriage leaving for the wizarding town. I managed to hop into the last carriage before it left and situated myself comfortably in the seat. I looked up to see Cedric Diggory across from me.
I almost gasped as glanced up to see those freakishly gorgeous eyes staring back at me. He knew it too. Of course, the guys with that amount of perfect-ness in them always come with the cockiness. It was well deserved cockiness, but annoying nonetheless.
"Hey, Katie," he smiled kindly at me as our carriage jerked forward.
"Hi, Diggory."
The two of us sat there in silence for a little while and I watched Diggory play with this horribly ugly bracelet on his wrist before I decided to break the silence.
"Not that I'm ungrateful, Diggory, but why did you help me out with the Quidditch match?"
"Our Seeker doesn't wear glasses, obviously," he pointed to his face. "I had to make the playing field even."
"And then you go and catch the Snitch while our Seeker is lying face down in mud?" I raised my eyebrows in amusement as his face turned red.
"You know I didn't do that on purpose, Katie. You know it."
"Yes, Diggory, I was just joking. I know it," I laughed lightly. He was so cute when he got angry! Then again, he was cute either way.
"Do you know how the hell to get this thing off?" Cedric was now yanking furiously at the bracelet attached to his wrist.
"Give me your hand," I held out my own palm and he placed his in it.
The bracelet was a dull brown color and was what seemed to be a metal strap with a clasp on the end. There was a small keyhole -
"Uh oh, Diggory, you got yourself in bad with this one," I sighed as I examined the bracelt.
"What are you talking about?"
"It's a Bonding Band. It's enchanted so that it will not be able to be removed without the key, which the person who gave you the bracelet probably possesses. It bonds you to whoever gave it to you so that after twenty four hours of wearing it, you won't be able to talk to a member of the opposite sex without getting one horrible headache, sometimes worse depending on the conversation and your thoughts. It's a tricky little bugger. I know all about them because of this annoying little prat I- no, forget that. Long story."
"So, how do I get it off, it hurts," he complained.
"You have to get back the key. Who gave it to you?"
"Aurora."
"And that would be?" I raised my eyebrows. It was quite funny, the situation I found myself stuck in. Diggory's woman skills had finally come back to bite him in the ass.
"I've been going out with her for a week," he mumbled as he continued to tug at the bracelet.
"I already told you, yanking at it is pointless. It won't come off."
"But, Katie, if I don't get it off, I wouldn't ever be able to talk to a girl again. I wouldn't even be able to have this conversation with you if what you said was true."
"What a disappointment," my eyes shot open in mock horror.
"Please help me," he whined.
"How could I help you?"
"I need you to convince Rory to give you the key. Please."
"And someone else couldn't help you with this because . . .?"
"All the girls in Hufflepuff are friends with her and all of the guys would never let me hear the end of it. Please, Katie. I need you."
The desperation in his voice was getting to me. Or maybe it was the cute way his nose squinted up when he was begging. I couldn't hold on much longer and I knew it.
"Please?"
"Oh, fine," I snapped. "I help you get the horrid bracelet off."
"Thank you," he sighed in relief and sunk back into his seat.
They always get what they want, no questions asked. Beautiful people.