Ah, silly me. I've forgotten something fairly important in the last chapter. The disclaimer. So, on with the usual... I don't own Harry Potter, I don't own any of the characters in the book, yadda yadda yadda... I DO own Candace, and I DO own the plot of this story. Anything else? Not mine. Not unless I state otherwise in that certain chapter.
Second order of business. My chapters are a little short at this point. I'm working on it. This is my first fan fic in, oh... four, maybe five years? So pardon if it sucks a little to begin with. It's also been really stressfull lately, and I'm surprised I'm daring enough to put this up now. Things might be a little slow for a while, but I promise that I'll get going on it.
Lastly, Author's Notes to all the reviewers!
Darkstar71 - You get five karma points! You're my first EVER reviewer. Feel special!
dadswell - I dunno what it was about the name I liked so much. I actually think it came from my History textbook last year Ox" But hey, it works. I don't know anything about ER, but I'll check out your HP fanfics!
Serria - Ok. Everyone who is literate must go to Serria's fanfics and read them all. They're wicked good! And thanks for the support, Serria
So yes. Without further ado, Chapter 2 of "Things I'll Never Say"
I woke up early the next morning. Wiping the sleep out of my eyes, I pull back the emerald covers on my four-poster bed. The whole room is dark, seeing as how there are no windows, just a small lantern on every bedstand - the dormitories are in the dungeons, so it's not exactly possible to have true windows. Around the room sits three other beds with the silver curtains draped down around them. I grasp the silvery material around my own bed and pull them open. I dig in my trunk and dig out one of my school robes. Pulling it on, I head over to the door of the dormitory and swing it open.
At the bottom of the stairs, I walk into the common room. The fire, which was already blazing in the stone fireplace, was lighting up the room. Never-the-less, the atmosphere was nothing short of cold. Everything in the room said "Slytherin" - the dark green leather couches, the black wood tables and other decorating, the slytherin banners everywhere, green and silver serpents... not hard to see why I didn't like the place. I crossed over the gloomy room to the door. It automatically swung open as I walked towards it.
Going down the halls, my feet guided me. After six years of going this path, it was second nature to me by then. After a few minutes of subconcious navigating, I find myself in the Entrance Hall. Amazing how my feet are so far from both my head and my stomach, but it still knew both were screaming "FOOD!" The doors to the Great Hall are open and inviting. I take the hint and walk into the large doorway.
The long house tables were all nearly empty, just a person or two at each. Looking up at the ceiling, I noticed that it was barely dawn - that would explain the lack of people. Sitting at my usual seat, I pull a plate of eggs towards me. Halfway through my breakfast, a note folded into a paper airplane flies towards me. I grab it and unfold it - my schedule. My first day back, and I get to start out with Potions. Alright, so it could be worse. I actually didn't mind Potions so much. It wasn't near my favorite, but I could stand them - obviously, or I wouldn't have continued to take the class after my O.W.L.s. I stuffed the schedule parchment into my pocket.
I looked around the Great Hall - it was definitely filling up. I stood up and walked to the end of the table As I turned towards the door, I noticed the second Gryffindor rendezvous within twenty-four hours. Remus Lupin, apparently also an early riser, had also just finished breakfast. No, not Remus, just Lupin. It was too late to stop and go back to the Slytherin table, so I just kept walking. We reached the door at practically the same time. He smiled at me out of politeness, and I smiled back for the same reason. My courtesy expressed, I kept walking - until his voice stopped me.
"Candace?"
I turned back to look at him. Damn it... the look on his face wass near pity again. But I saw the sincerity in his eyes, so I waited to see what he had to say. He looked like he was searching for the right way to word what he wanted to say.
"I'm sorry for the way the other Gryffindors acted yesterday.. you probably know as well as I do that they're not the type to apologize to a Slytherin, but I couldn't let it rest on my conscience."
"Well, aren't we just the proper one. Shouldn't you be used to them being jerks to a lot of people, especially Slytherins?"
"Unlike the people they pull practical jokes on, you didn't deserve it."
I gave him a look that clearly said 'I don't believe you.' He caught my drift.
"Alright, so most of the others didn't deserve it, either. I was impressed how you stood up to them. Usually everyone either backs down or resorts to using foce. Very, very few, yourself included, truly stand up for themselves."
Wow. So that wasn't exactly the reaction I was expecting. Was it possible that one of the feared four actually had a side that wasn't determined to be a complete nuisance? Come to think of it, I just realized how much I sound like my mother at times. Either way, I know he's telling the truth. I take the harsh tone out of my voice when I speak next.
"I find it comes in handy. Especially around this place."
"True enough."
Once again, a smile appears on his mouth. It doesn't quite reach his eyes, but it's a nice gesture anyway. Once again, I smile back. I look over at the Gryffindor table, then out into the Entrance Hall. No sign of the other 'lions.'
"Wow, it's the Apocalypse. You mean you people don't live, sleep, and breathe in packs?"
"Nah, at least not today. I'm not actually in the Gryffindor dormitories anymore."
"Wait.. you can't get re-sorted, can you?"
"No, even better, though."
He readjusted his cloak slightly so a gleam of gold was noticable. At a closer look, I gasped at realizing what it was. From the sun's light coming into the hall, the letters "HB" glittered very brightly. I was instantly envious.
Ever since I got the Prefect's badge before 5th year, I wanted to be Head Girl. Call me a geek, call me a dork, a nerd, loser, whatever. I wanted to be Head Girl more than anything else in the world. Another reason to get more studying in. But of course... The only thing that I got in the Hogwarts letter a few weeks ago was just that - the letter. Needless to say, I was fairly upset.
I looked at the badge a bit longer longingly, then stood up straight again. He must have noticed the look of envy on my face, because he gave an innocent smirk.
"Congrats. But how does that make the other three back off? Surely they wouldn't be afraid of being associated with Head Boy?"
"I have a feeling they'll be trying to use that to their advantage. Better not mess with them, they're friends with a Head Boy. It's just their tradition to sleep in as late as possible the first day back."
"But why aren't you in the Gryffindor Commom Room anymore?"
"Head Boy and Head Girl have their own Common Room and dormitories. Same floor as Dumbledore's office, just the different side of the floor. It's actually a pretty amazing room."
I opened my mouth to tell him... tell him what? That I'm jealous? That he deserves it? That he doesn't deserve it? Whatever it was, I was pre-interrupted by the first bell. I checked my watch, then picked up my school bag.
"I gotta head to class."
With that, I walked past Lupin and started off towards my first class, Potions. I was a staircase down when I realized that I hadn't even said any form of a 'goodbye' to him. He had talked to me purposefully. He was the one that came up to me. I had to give him points for bravery, that was for sure. Not to mentionsomeone from that group was the least typical person I expected to be even civil with a Slytherin.
As I kept walking, I thought about the other side. Sure, he was nice. But as a Slytherin, should that matter? I was chosen as a Slytherin whether I liked it or not, shouldn't I be properly ashamed? Shouldn't I tell him off for feeling sorry for me, trying to make me feel better by acting like somebody cared? Go back to my dormitory and find a hundred ways to get even, and raise my Slytherin ego back to its full height?
But I didn't I felt bad for being rude. I felt guilty for practically ignoring someone who cared. And I was even more surprised to realize that I cared, too.
