Uber Quick Author's Note: Yes this chapter did take forever to get up. No it isn't super interesting. Not much happens. Not to spoil a chunk of the story but as of now everything is just building up to the ball. A couple more chapters, a flashback or two and I'll get the ball chapter up. It'll be good, that much I swear I'm working on making it like...an epic. Mwa ha good word. Pffft well yeah. Just a chapter to tie up a couple of loose ends and untie a couple others. The usual shin dig. A bit of background I never bothered to give out before...the band name Kara's Flowers, was actually the name of Maroon 5 for a little bit before they got big and changed their name. I forget where I found that out...And the title Perfect Teeth is a song by Motion City Soundtrack. And a damn GOOD song by Motion City Soundtrack. Well yeah. This wasn't exactly uber quick but mother fuck it...enjoy the chapter!
The Undermath
Professor McGonagall ran a lean finger down her list impatiently.
"We are still missing three fifth years." she said sternly, "Ginny Weasley, Caroline Kirth, and Kyler Macintosh. Has anyone heard from them?"
Laura stood on tip toes to whisper in her brother's ear
"Kyler and Caroline are missing too?"
"I guess so..." he muttered furrowing is brow
"No matter. We cannot wait any longer!" Professor McGonagall snapped when no one answered her, "Fifth years clear the Entrance Hall! Sixth years gather round for roll call!"
"They're together then aren't they?" Leon asked "The three of them? Where d'you suppose they are?"
"They aren't together necessarily." J.J said bitingly "Laura go save us seats before the whole Gryffindor table is full."
"Aw, why do I have to-"
"Because, you're a midget. And you know that. So stop wasting time and go."
Laura snorted and raised her eyebrows as she walked up bouncing on the balls of her feet, slipping easily through the crowds
"Someone has itchy balls..." they could hear her mutter before she disappeared entirely
"Yeah, what's up with you?" Adam asked J.J
"Nothing. Just-Kyler. I mean...I have a bone to pick with her."
"Yeah, what was that about on the train?" Davinee asked curiously "Neither of you seemed too keen to go into detail on what exactly happened that caused the...thing."
J.J grinned.
"Forget it, it's nothing really."
The five of them found their seats Laura had predictably found and saved easily. The crowd settled down quite fast when Dumbledore stood before his podium. This always managed to generate an air of excitement. He gave them a toothy smile
"Welcome. Students, teachers, ghosts, and other creatures to whom I do not have time to address, which I apologize for. A new year is upon us once more. To our new blood– welcome. And our old hands- I suppose it must be getting old by now."
He paused a muffled laughter rang through the Hall
"A few brief announcements as always, before our delectable feast gets the better of us. First years note that the Forbidden Forest, is as its name implies. And although the title "Whomping Willow" does not specifically give a warning of caution to those too careless to pay close attention– I am giving it now. Keep away. Also, this year as most members of the Hogwarts Quidditch teams are probably already aware...you are fighting for much more than then the Hogwarts Quidditch Cup."
Dumbledore pursed his lips patiently as silent chatter broke out
"What's he mean?" Travis asked confusedly
Laura shrugged and made a face
"This year...Hogwarts is playing host to a new experiment. It has a long boring, complicated title, and many long, boring, equally complicated rules and denominations that I shall not befuddle you with as they will most likely be rendered insignificant and I assure you they will be of little importance to any of you anyways. This year the team victorious at winning our Quidditch Cup...will get a chance to fight for the Quidditch cup. The following summer they will join the official league and do their best at leading Hogwarts to victory at winning the Quidditch World Cup."
Predictably not many students bothered to attempt to keep quiet this time.
"Holy shit." said Travis blankly
Laura wrinkled her nose
"Is he actually serious?" J.J asked wide eyed
"Wow...this is...big."
When the chatter finally died down Dumbledore took up again. The students were restless in their seats however and ready for the feast. Not many listened to his elaborate speech.
"...but I need you all to know that I will always be here if any of you are in need of a chat. I can always be reached. We hope that you will fight against all that is wrong. And we will show you how."
He paused once more. The Hall was silent.
"And lastly, the Welcome Ball will take place two weeks from today. Formal atire should be worn. Dress robes or muggle dress clothes. Attendance is as always, optional but recommenced. But without further ado, I invite you all to– tuck in."
The silver plates and goblets filled magically with delicious looking food. Laura's face lit up.
"Excellent." she said reaching for the potatoes.
"Hey."
Ginny had appeared at their table
Travis raised his eyebrows
"Hey, stranger."
She was looking highly shaken up, and not quite sure where she was. Her eyes were red.
"Where've you been?" J.J asked grabbing a roll
"Um...prefect stuff..." she mumbled
"You weren't by any chance, with Caroline and Kyler, were you?" he asked
Ginny's back stiffened.
"We met." she said briefly, "I'm not sure where they are now."
"Well are you gonna-"
"Actually, I'll be right back." she said hurriedly. And she'd disappeared again within the blink of an eye. Adam stared at the place she'd been standing seconds ago.
"Well all right then." he said stabbing at a piece of chicken.
Ginny hurried quickly out of the Hall, and made her way to the bathroom. She looked over her shoulders feeling harassed. When she arrived, she flicked the silver lock on the stall door shut and hardly even knowing what she was doing, jammed her finger, now for the second time, down her throat and paused shaking as her stomach convulsed and she vomited. And she felt relieved. She had needed that. She let a shaking hand unlock the door and after quickly glancing at herself in the mirror, headed back to the Great Hall. Things were of course not winding down yet. People were still laughing and eating and talking. It was too loud. Ginny took a seat in between Travis and Leon.
"So, wanna explain?"
"Explain what?" she asked Travis suspiciously
"This quidditch thing." he said in a muffled voice as Laura shielded her face with her hand from the peas that were flying out of his mouth. "You must've known about it, why didn't you say anything?"
Ginny's mouth dropped genuinely
"Oh my god you're right. I did know. I completely forgot about that." she said honestly, laughing at her own stupidity. She still loved quidditch. She would've told them. She didn't know why she had forgotten. A lot of things were slipping past her lately.
"Well are you pissing your pants excited or what?" J.J asked
"Yeah, it's gonna be good." she nodded energetically "I hope we win."
"Oh god, we will for sure." Adam assured her. "Can you imagine Slytherin playing for the Quidditch World Cup? It won't happen."
"It isn't like they don't have a chance." she corrected him, feeling herself get worked up. "I mean, we have a better team hands down, but you don't see us winning every year, do you?"
"I'm not too caught up in the politics." Leon put in, "I just know we'll win."
Ginny pushed around her uneaten roll on her plate.
"If you say so..." she mumbled
"Well hello my blue jean babies." came an oily voice
"Kyler!" Davinee exclaimed, "Where have you been?"
"Here, and there." Kyler smiled carelessly
"You missed rollcall." Adam told her
"I know, Caroline went to go find McGonagall and tell her we're here." she said with a glance at J.J. "Hello Ginny. Hello Jay."
Ginny looked up daringly from her plate and narrowed her eyes.
"Hi."
"Well don't I feel special!" Davinee snapped
Kyler rolled her eyes.
"Sorry. But I need to talk to-"
"Gang's all here!"
"It just keeps getting better..." Adam grumbled as the ever lovely Caroline appeared by Kyler's side grinning freshly glossed lips.
"Is something going on?" Travis asked suspiciously
There was a silent pause.
"No." Caroline answered finally in a stiff voice. "But you wanna shove over so I don't starve?"
Reluctantly Travis slid over two spots and Kyler and Caroline sat down.
"So." said Adam who was usually very open with everyone, "Not to be rude or anything, but it's been a while since I've seen you Caroline."
"It's been a while since we've all seen you." Laura said raising her eyebrows
"I've been around. Maybe you just weren't looking hard enough."
Caroline raised her own eyebrows seductively and Laura let a small grunt of laugher escape.
"Well why weren't you two here for rollcall?" Leon asked
"You three." Davinee corrected who was just as curious as to why Ginny hadn't been there
"We were sort of wandering the train, lost track of time." Caroline said innocently ...but she was looking down, avoiding eye contact. "I wanted to see the Sorting, but what are you gonna do?" she shrugged
"Aren't you gonna eat?" Travis asked Ginny on a completely different note, wrinkling his eyebrows at her full plate. Caroline looked angry at being interrupted.
"I'm not that hungry...I feel kind of... weird." Ginny shrugged
"Bad weird?" J.J asked glancing at her
"Bad weird."
"You should still eat, you were practically starving yourself on the train." he said. He tossed her a roll and she caught it. "We could head up to the common room now if you want."
"I'd really like that but I've gotta show the first years where they're going." she said jabbing a finger at the badge on her chest. "I just love this thing."
"You weren't wearing that before, were you?" Laura asked her
Ginny shrugged
"Nah, I dug it out of my luggage before I came to the feast.
"It doesn't really match your robes." Caroline said coldly
"Not much I can do about that, now is there?" Ginny asked her.
Travis laughed.
"Well whatever, if you really feel like shit though, I'll head up with you. Giving directions to first years isn't really a two person job. Whose the other new Gryffindor prefect anyways?" J.J asked
Just as Ginny was about to say she wasn't sure–
"I am." Caroline said with a grin.
There was a pause.
"You are?" Davinee croaked finally
"That's right."
No one felt too keen to say anything.
"Well I guess your badge won't really match your robes either." Ginny told her slyly.
Caroline narrowed her eyes. Ginny's face was burning.
"But actually...I think...yes I think I'm going to head up to the common room now. I'm feeling a little off colour myself." Caroline said throwing a cough at the end of her sentence. "Wanna head up with me J.J?"
He shrugged, looking awkward.
"Sure, I guess, if you want. You guys mind?"
Adam shook his head
"It's cool. I'll grab your suitcase before I head up for you."
"Thanks. Feel better Gin." he stuck a hand on her head and messed up her hair, grinning before walking off unwillingly behind a perfectly healthy looking Caroline.
No one spoke for a moment.
"That was new." Laura said daringly, as Kyler was still sitting there with watchful eyes.
"No it was old. It was ancient. I'd almost forgotten about it." Leon corrected.
"It was weird." said Adam, "I didn't like it."
Kyler said nothing
"This is too fucked up. I'm confused." Laura added
"What else is new?"
"Fuck you."
"It won't last." Travis said knowingly. No one dared to question him. "Seriously it won't. Fate's already set."
"Meaning what?" Kyler asked suddenly. Travis stared her down weighing his options. Laura was looking intently at her mashed potatoes.
"Nothing, forget it." he answered.
"That was really bitchy how she just left, so you would have to sit through the whole feast Gin." Laura said carelessly
Kyler slammed a fork down as she stood up, rattling everything on the table.
"You guys are so cruel. You just sit here and talk about her behind her back, what did she ever do to you?"
"Kyler Jesus!" Davinee snapped finally "When, did you become friends with her?"
"You've always said you liked her! Always on about how you're in the Charms Club together! You said you-"
"I also said that, that blue mascara you wear makes you look cute." Davinee said coldly
Immediately Kyler burst into another fit of hysterical tears, gathered her belongings and scurried out of the Hall.
"Whoa..." Adam said slowly "I am so glad I'm not a girl. They're fucked in the head."
Davinee through him an evil look and he stared down at his plate
"Yeah, can you spell PMS?" Leon guffawed
"Yes but I bet she can't!" Davinee spat "Idiot! Who the fuck hangs out with Caroline Kirth?"
"A lot of people actually." Laura pointed out "And we used to like two years ago...and...yeah you did say you liked her didn't you? On the train? You were asking J.J why he wouldn't go out with her!" she grinned "Man, we are fucked in the head."
The feast seemed much longer than usual. When finally dinner ended, there was still dessert, and Dumbledore's final words before finally Ginny led the apprehensive looking first years up to their dorm.
"It's time for bed now like Dumbledore said." she told them in a monotone even though it was hardly 10:00.
"Awwwww!" a girl a head taller than Ginny moaned in a high voice "Can't we stay up just a bit longer!"
"Uh, no." Ginny answered bluntly. "It's late, go to bed."
"It isn't late!" another one cried excitedly
"It's very late. You must be running a fever. You're delusional. All the more reason to go to bed. And don't think I won't know if you don't."
And with it she shut the door in the girl's face. Obviously they wouldn't be going to sleep, but at least now she could say she tried. As tired as she felt, Ginny was not in the mood to go to sleep. She made her way down to the common room, which was mainly full of fifth and sixth years lounging around, half in uniform half in bed clothes, talking and laughing with their friends.
Leon, J.J, Travis, Laura and Kyler were taking up the area before the fire.
"Hey Gin," Laura greeted her
Ginny sat down
"Hey...where's Caroline?"
J.J shrugged
"Went to bed."
"And what're we all doing down here?"
Travis scowled jokingly.
"Having a jolly good time, can't you tell?"
Ginny couldn't help but laugh. She took a seat on the floor by the couch, and Laura wasted no time in resting her feet on her shoulders.
"Mother of shit, it's cold!" Laura exclaimed suddenly
"Yeah, and your feet smell." Ginny added
She wiggled her toes innocently.
"Maybe they smell when they're cold."
"I'm cold and my feet don't smell."
Just as Ginny was about to respond, Laura's foot brushed her right hand and she jumped.
Your turn...
Quickly she withdrew her hand, digging her fingernails into it and blinking back tears. Laura set down a quill on the floor next to Ginny, along with a note she'd been writing.
"For mom..." she said in answer to J.J's questioning glance
"Hey, I'm going to the bathroom." Kyler said suddenly.
"Thanks for sharing." Leon grinned and she whacked him playfully with the back of her hand before heading up the staircase.
"She left her bag." Laura said after a pause. When no one answered she stood up and walked over to the table by the fire where Kyler's bag was lying entwined with Ginny's.
"Hey, Gin you really need a new bag you know." Laura said glancing down at it.
Ginny went red.
"I know..." she mumbled offhandedly "But until I get some...until I can...it's fine for now." she said looking down at her beaten bag, complete with rips, tears and broken zippers wishing her family wasn't poor.
Laura bent down, as Ginny watched her feeling a bit sad...if Laura only spoke to her to point out things wrong with her...she tried to shake the feeling off and just enjoy being back at school. Just enjoy not being at home anymore, as Laura rummaged around.
"I wonder if she has gum or someth-"...she paused staring down at something that had fallen to the ground from one of the bags. Laura picked it up. It was a small bottle of large purple pills. The bottle had no label. She looked at them, her bright eyes odd. "What are these?" she asked slowly.
Ginny stared from Laura to the pills, not blinking, not moving. Something wasn't right at all.
"Kyler isn't sick is she?" Laura wrinkled her brow
J.J shook his head...
"No...she would have told us...or we would have noticed...she doesn't have asthma or something does she?"
"No." Travis crushed that idea "The only one who has asthma is-"
"Me." Laura agreed. She was still looking at the pills "And even so you don't take these whoppers for something as stupid as asthma..."
"Gin these aren't yours are they?" Leon asked her.
Ginny just shook her head and blinked.
"Let me see." Travis grunted, reaching over as Laura stood on her knees and handed him the bottle. He examined it and moved it around in his hand before twisting off the small white cap and dumping one of the pills into his hand, his grin slowly fading away. "Vietax..." he read off the thick violet pill. Travis paused. "These are diet pills."
Ginny could have sworn she saw J.J's dark eyes flash momentarily to her before he looked away.
"Diet pills?" Laura croaked.
"Yeah and bad ones." Travis said raising his eyebrows and frowning. "My cousin Jenna got hooked on these things...and it was...awful." he gulped. "They work too well. You could eat a Christmas feast then eat half a Vietax and drop twenty pounds by the next morning. They freak you out you know? You go all psycho and get really sick..." He was staring intently at the little tinted bottle...finally he looked up, worried. "They aren't yours are they Ginny?" he asked her in a very serious voice.
"No." she pressed.
"And you would tell us if they were right?" Leon asked her
Ginny was growing annoyed.
"Yes."
"Because you know you don't need diet pills. That's ridiculous." Travis told her slowly, not lowering his eyebrows.
Yes you're fine nice and plump.
"Stop talking to me like I'm four, I know I don't!" she snapped.
J.J looked up heavily.
"Then...they must be Kyler's." he concluded. Laura sat back down on the couch shakily. Footsteps and muffled voices were coming from the Girl's Staircase. They all glanced to the right.
Davinee and Kyler approached, both grinning and chatting.
"Hey." Kyler smiled walking back in and sitting down. No one said anything.
"Who died?" Davinee asked finally. Travis glanced up awkwardly
"Kyler are these yours?" he asked her bluntly. He held up the little bottle and gave it a shake as the grin on Kyler's face slowly faded away.
"Oh those!" she said with a laugh "Yeah-well, yeah and no. My mom took one, I dunno where she got them. But then it started making her feel kind of weak and then she figured out what they were and that they weren't what she thought they were so she just stuck them on top of the piano for the time being...I guess...I guess they must have fallen into my bag or something when I was getting ready."
Travis didn't seem convinced.
"You know what these are right?" he asked her
She nodded. "Yeah, and it's a good thing."
"You know what these can do to you right?" his eyebrows were still raised.
"Of course I do Trav. It's not like I've taken any!" she protested, smiling
Travis lowered his eyebrows a little.
"And you're telling the truth?"
Kyler stared at him a split second before giving a huge nod.
Travis lowered his hand that had the bottle in it and set them slowly onto the table as if the Vietax were made of glass.
"Well...okay." he said allowing his smile to return.
Davinee glimpsed around the room.
"Everyone can smile now!" she said with almost a nervous laugh. "What were you guys talking about before this?"
"Well before any of this started?" Leon asked "I think it was about how La and Gin are-"
"Cooooold!" Laura exclaimed
"Shut up, La you're making me colder!" Ginny yelled with a giggle, as the tension slowly faded off
"Here take my sweater," J.J said pulling it off and tossing it over to Ginny. Both girls latched onto it, digging their nails into the fabric.
"Noooooo!" Laura moaned
"As much as this amuses me..." Travis laughed "Take my sweater Laura."
Laura dropped her brother's sweater and smiled as she caught Travis's
"Mwa ha!"
Kyler had been extremely silent, and was growing red
"Gin, come here I wanna talk to you a second."
Ginny said nothing at first, still absentmindedly stroking her right hand from what seemed like hours ago, when the horrible memory of the train had jumped on her. Her friends didn't seem to hate her...except perhaps Kyler...
"Oh well..." she thought. "Let's see."
She stood up and allowed Kyler to lead her to an empty corner of the common, room where before she addressed Ginny she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Confused, Ginny wrinkled her eyebrows.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Kyler asked her finally in a would be calm voice
Ginny blinked.
"Huh?"
Losing her cool, Kyler threw her hands up in the air in protest
"You're totally hitting on the guy I totally like!" she hissed in a high voice
"What? Jay?"
"Yes Jay! Who the fuck do you think?" she cried growing even redder. Ginny saw Travis glance over. She ran an anxious hand through her hair. Of course Kyler liked J.J. And hated Ginny. And of course they would probably end up together and J.J would hate her also. And she would be left with jackshit.
"I don't know what the fuck you're talking about." Ginny told her quietly trying to divert attention from their conversation
"Like shit you don't. It's so obvious." Kyler continued angrily, "Oh J.J I'm so sick. I'm so miserable. I'm so cold. I need you to give me your sweater and hold me in your big strong arms and make everything all better." she cooed in a sickly voice.
"Stop it Kyler, shut up." Ginny warned her, tears stinging her eyes.
"Look. I get that everyone on Earth seems to think you're perfect. Perfect, smart, tiny, beautiful, sweet Ginny. But you should know that there are people who see through you, all right? So stop playing innocent. You know I like him. And now you have no excuse for flirting with him. Except that you're a bitch. And you know I totally covered up for you back there!" she cried throwing her hands in the direction of the fire. "I could have just told them the pills aren't mine!"
"The pills are yours!"
"Are not!"
"Bullshit! You must have put them in my bag!" she screamed
"They were in your bag. They're your diet pills." Kyler told her in a thought out manner
"And why the fuck did you put them in there anyways?" Ginny asked her shakily, her eyes welling up "Were you trying to get me to use them? Is it your way of calling me fat? Or did you want people to find them and then treat me like a mental patient? Or an anorexic slut? Or is it just some stupid reasonless joke!"
"STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM J.J!" Kyler shrieked abandoning all reason. She stomped her foot and her hair flew up into her red face.
"I thought Caroline wanted to go out with J.J." Ginny said questioningly "I thought that you two were friends."
Kyler's eyes went wide.
"Fuck." she muttered in a low voice. "Well whatever. It doesn't matter all right? Just-just I hope you're starting to get it. There are people who don't love you. And J.J doesn't so just...just give up and move on! He isn't interested!" she cried frantically
Ginny shook on the spot, her eyes going glassy. She didn't think to deny anything Kyler was saying.
"Fuck you." she managed to muster before wiping a tear away from her eyes and heading quickly up the stairs to get to bed.