AN: Just a quick thank you for all of the reviews. I cannot emphasize how much it means to know this story is getting any type of response. It honestly is more than I anticipated. Now, about this chapter. It's my favorite so far. A little more adult, but I'm happy with the outcome. It will play a HUGE part in the plot, FYI. So, let me know what you think!
Bringing Down Addie
Chapter Four
Champagne and Buggering
It had been a few weeks after the Quidditch game when I realized something that I should have known from the beginning. Harry was just about as talented at acting mean as he was at acting sappy. In other words, not good at all. He's just too damn polite.
I had a dilemma.
And it wasn't just a tiny dilemma either. No, it was rather large and obtrusive. Addie was nowhere near the point of a mental breakdown. She was nowhere near the point of propelling herself off of a very high and jagged mountain. She was nowhere near the point of throwing herself into a pool of venomous sea creatures. She was simply – Addie, as cold and unfeeling as ever.
To add onto the dilemma I had a time deadline. There was a Ministry gala dance type thingy being held by the replacement of Cornelius Fudge. Tonight. You know, it's kind of like that muggle story Cinderella, only kind of backwards. I have until midnight to turn Addie into one of the ugly stepsisters, not into a princess. I don't know how I deal with it sometimes.
Anyways, moving on. Tonight. Harry flooed to tell me that Addie had already supplied him with an outfit to compliment hers, and I in turn sent him back one that would be sure to doubly clash with whatever Addie was wearing. Brilliant of me, I know.
Now there was the small question of what I was going to wear. After finding nothing but a bunch of moths and furry old jumpers in my closet I enlisted Hermione's help and dragged her off to Madam Malkin's with me. She was less than pleased. So I was obligated to entertain her, and if my idea of entertainment was Harry then so be it.
"What do you think of Harry?" I asked Hermione casually while I flipped through a few racks of dress robes.
"He's my best friend. Why?" She replied suspiciously. Drat. It really is a pain having your only female friend be the one person on the earth who is smarter than the entire board of Hogwart's professors combined.
"No reason." I tried to brush it off.
"You're not getting out of it that easy Ginny. Why did you bring up Harry?" Hermione asked forcefully.
"Because." I deadpanned.
"Don't be difficult." Hermione snapped. "Are you interested in him again?" She asked shrewdly.
I just stared at her.
"Because if you are you better be serious about it. Addie really hurt him and he doesn't need another girl just going after him on a whim. He needs commitment." She lectured. It snapped me back into the present.
"Harry will never be a whim." I stated firmly.
"I know." Hermione said kindly before she got a mischievous glint in her eye. "You never did tell me what you two got into that night you came back all wet." I shivered just thinking about it.
"I told Harry he needed to take more risks so he dragged me into a freezing cold fountain." I pouted.
"That's a relief." Hermione said lightly. "For awhile I thought you had really done something illegal."
"No, nothing illegal." I muttered.
We drifted into silence and I let lovely little daydreams of Harry float around in my head. It was lovely.
"What about this one?" Hermione finally asked holding up something that slightly resembled a dress that had been put through a shredder. The look on my face must have said it all as Hermione quickly replaced it on the rack.
"I don't do frills." I said moodily as soon as the dress was safely tucked away.
"You know, I think that you're good for Harry." Hermione commented absentmindedly.
"Oh." I said, trying to sound disinterested. I failed miserably.
"I haven't seen him as happy as he was that night. He just seemed to be – glowing." She smiled at me coyly. "I don't think I would be going that far out onto a limb saying that he fancied you."
"Me?" I asked, wanting to believe it so badly. Alas, reality just had to step in. "No, that's not how it works. I'm the one who fancies Harry. He just sees me as a friend. That's how it's always worked out."
It's not that I didn't want to have Harry declare his eternal and unyielding love for me, I was just afraid to get my hopes up.
"Rubbish." Hermione scoffed.
"But it's the whole unrequited love thing." I said knowledgably. "Besides, say I wanted to write a romance novel. I'd have to write from experience, because that's what works best. People would want to read about unrequited love. It's that sort of bittersweet thing."
"Are you planning on writing a romance novel, then?" Hermione asked.
"Well, not exactly." I said slowly.
"There you go. Problem solved." Hermione smirked as she shoved a green slinky number into my arms. "Go try that on." She ordered.
"I don't want to wear green." I whined. "I always wear green."
"You don't always wear green." Hermione said in exasperation. "Besides," She got an odd glint in her eye. "If you wear green you'll match Harry's eyes."
Oh, that was good. Leave it to Hermione.
"Fine." I sniffed. "But I'm not wearing it because of that, it's because I want to."
"Alright Ginny." Hermione smiled.
I ended up buying the slinky thing. I actually quite liked the way it fit. It was all clingy in the right places and loose in all the others. If you catch my drift.
The rest of the day went by slowly the agonizing moments were broken into segments with the odd question posed by myself to Hermione about the mystery that was Harry. Unfortunately she was quite tight lipped.
I left for the Ministry party with Hermione and Ron, Harry was going with Addie. Gag me. When we got there, there was lots of reporters with their cameras and their notepads. They seemed quite interested in Harry.
It was priceless watching him fumble through questions about his personal and professional life. Poor boy.
Addie, on the other hand, handled the whole thing like a pro. Damn her.
She smiled and waved at all the right people and answered each question perfectly. I hated her for that.
I caught Harry's eye as we entered the large building where the event was being held and he smiled at me before looking at Addie and rolling his eyes. I laughed and smiled back before allowing myself to be pushed into the fray.
But I didn't have much time to appreciate the lights and the oh so festive music before I was intercepted.
"Hello." I heard a distinctly masculine voice from behind my shoulder. For a moment I thought it was Harry and felt myself growing flustered before I realized that it couldn't be. Harry was signing autographs or something else of the sort. "Hello." The voice repeated.
I regained a hold over my senses and spun around only to be met by one of the most exquisite looking men I have ever had the pleasure to lay eyes on. He was blonde and blue-eyed, and his body was…
"Hi." I squeaked. My lord was he beautiful. Not as beautiful as Harry, though.
"I couldn't help but noticing that you didn't have a date." Mister Gorgeous said all dreamily and such.
"Oh." I said quietly. "No."
"Are all other men blind then?" He looked at me with something akin to – lust – in his eyes.
"Oh, well, I wouldn't say that." I said, feeling my cheeks flame.
"I would." He said all cheekily. "My name's Aidan Kinsella."
Oh that wasn't good.
"Ginny Weasley." I extended my hand for him to shake. But he didn't shake it. He kissed it. "Would you like to tell me why the minister's son doesn't have a date? That seems a little more out of place than me being here alone." I asked politely.
"Let's just say I couldn't find anyone that quite reached my – standards." He said rather boldly. If that's the way he wanted to play it I would be happy to oblige.
"And am I up to these standards?" I shot back. Oh Merlin, I was flirting, and not with Harry. I could hear the little warning signals firing off in random directions all over my brain but nothing seemed to be registering up there. Crap.
"Only the night will tell." He told me vaguely. "Let me get you a drink."
I followed him up to the bar where I downed three glasses of champagne in quick succession to calm my nerves.
"So you were a big part of the war, right?" He asked casually while he twirled around his martini.
"Yeah." I said sullenly. "But I don't really want to talk about that."
"Right. Sorry." He apologized as I started on another glass of champagne. This was just plain out awkward, but I couldn't ditch my dad's boss. That was just karma waiting to happen.
"What do you do for a living?" I asked, trying to feign an intense interest.
"I write." He answered.
"Oh, what do you write?" I questioned.
"Whatever inspires me." He replied all passionately. "I've had quite a good response from what I've tried publishing."
"That's wonderful." I said with false exuberance. "You know, I was thinking about writing a romance novel."
"Romance, eh?" He asked like we were sharing this great big terrific secret. Which we were not. I had just pulled the whole thing out of my arse. "What type of romance?"
"Unrequited love." I answered confidently.
"Tragic." He commented.
"I know." I sighed. "I tried to explain it to my friend today while we were shopping but she couldn't understand its brilliance."
"We writers." He began. Oh no, what had I done. "I've found that we're always looking for something more than there is to really see which leaves our friends and families in confusion, you know?" I nodded like I knew exactly what he was talking about. "Like you, for instance." All right, that got my attention.
"And what do you see when you look at me?" I asked seductively.
"I see a girl who's just waiting for true love." Aidan answered all breathy. Actually, he was a pretty accurate guesser, but I had a feeling he was guessing what he was guessing for a slightly different reason than I had in mind. That was cause for another glass of champagne.
"Oh." I smiled awkwardly.
"And, I think that no one has yet to capture your vibrancy." He continued on. Uh oh.
"My vibrancy?" I asked.
"Yes." He whispered, taking my chin in his hand.
I made a squeaky noise in the back of my throat, but I don't think he heard.
He began moving closer to me and I was sure that he was going to kiss me. I swallowed and shut my eyes tightly bracing myself for the impact. Except it never came. I cracked one eye open to see him change direction from my mouth to my ear. "Dance with me." He breathed.
"Okay." I said shakily.
And so we danced. For a very long time. We swayed to the music in a back corner. Whenever a waiter would come by with a tray I would make sure to steal a flute of champagne and would allow myself to lean on Aidan as he explained his brilliance to me. It was, needless to say, very enlightening.
But not quite as enlightening as what we stumbled on in our secluded little corner.
"Addie!" I gasped.
There she was gripping tightly onto the back of the waiter who I had been stealing champagne from all night. And they were snogging. Passionately. And she had her legs wrapped around him. And they were making these noises…you get it.
They broke apart as quick as a flash when I said her name.
"Ginny." She calmed down significantly.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I said roughly. "You're in a public place, with reporters, and Harry!"
"Don't talk about matters that don't concern you." She snapped.
"Addie, this does concern me." I shot right back. Meanwhile I was semi-conscious to the fact that Aidan and the serving man were smiling politely at each other while silently backing up their chosen female. "I actually thought you had intelligence."
"Ginny you are being childish. No one comes back here." She said loftily.
"We came back here!" I screeched gesticulating wildly between Aidan and myself.
She paused mid-thought and looked at me like I had sprouted an extra head.
"Ryan, we're going back to my flat." Addie ordered, grabbing the poor man by the hand and shoving his tray of champagne into my arms.
"Wait." I gasped, as the pair was almost clear of the corner. "What are you doing?" I asked Addie.
"Ginny, dear." Addie paused to look at me in what she probably thought was a caring way. "I never got – get – any with Harry. I have needs. I plan to indulge them." And then she clicked away on her stilettos dragging her prey behind her.
"Wasn't that Harry Potter's girlfriend?" Aidan asked from behind me. I simply nodded and downed another glass of champagne in one gulp.
"This isn't good." I moaned.
"I'll say." Aidan agreed as he helped himself to a glass of champagne off of my tray. "I wonder if he knows."
"You'd be surprised." I said dryly. Aidan looked at me curiously, but I ignored him.
"Listen Aidan. It's been great getting to know you, but I have to go tell some people a few things." I transferred the champagne into his grasp making sure I had a glass for each hand before I stumbled off away from him. He didn't even protest.
It didn't take me long to find Harry talking to Fred and George.
"Harry." I laughed. "You'll never guess what I just saw."
"What?" He asked suspiciously.
"Addie was…" I was cut off by a big hiccup and a self inflicted pause to take another swig of champagne.
"Addie was what?" Harry asked nervously.
I motioned for him to move closer and I moved my lips up to whisper into his ear, "She was, uh, she was kissing this guy named Ryan who gave me all this champagne and then I saw her when I was with Aidan."
Harry pulled back from me and examined me carefully.
"Aidan?" He asked.
"He's the Minister's son. I met him and he told me I was vivacious." I said proudly.
"Oh." Harry said a bit uncertainly.
"Anyways, back to my story." I said impatiently. "They were snogging their brains right out, and I said 'Addie, you shouldn't do that' and she told Ryan to go back to her flat with her so she could indulge her needs which you don't do for her." I finished matter of factly.
"Hold up there Ginny." Fred said with a big smile.
"You mean Addie's out traipsing around with a busboy?" George asked.
"Exactly." I said. I was proud that my brothers had been able to discern my jumbled ramblings.
"That little slut." Fred said with a chuckle.
"Gin, how much champagne have you had?" Harry asked me, his eyes looking at me with concern.
"A little here and a little there." I said lightly.
"I think you should sit down." Harry grabbed my arm and tried to pull me down to the table.
"No." I pulled my arm out of his reach. "I have an idea, because obviously the dynamics changed now."
"The dynamic is just the same as it was before you had the champagne Gin." Harry said comfortingly. "Why don't I get you some water, hm?"
"You don't understand." I persisted. "You suck at being mean Harry, so I think you should be indifferent now and I should focus on the plan."
"We'll discuss it later." Harry said firmly.
"No, because we have to do my plan tonight." I whined.
"Fine." Harry sighed in defeat. "What's your plan for tonight?"
"You need to give an interview." I said simply.
Harry looked at me like I was insane.
"Listen." I said loudly. "You have to go in there and act in love and divulge lots of secret information. Then the reporter will ask you where Addie is because they obviously saw you two come in together, and then you can look all sad and confused and pretend that you don't know." I lowered my voice considerably, "You'll tug at their heartstrings."
"Actually mate." George commented. "She's got a point for someone who's drunk out of her skull."
"You think I should do it?" Harry asked the twins. Oh yes, ignore me. Fabulous. Just ignore the fact that I was the one who had the idea for the pure reason that I'm a little bit tipsy. Typical men.
"You only live once." Fred commented offhandedly.
"Okay. I'll do it." Harry said firmly.
"Wonderful." I commented excitedly. "I'll go find a reporter."
Before anyone could stop me I was off weaving through the crowd (champagne in hand) over to where the reporters were corralled.
As I stood there examining them, trying to make my decision as to who I wanted to give the exclusive of a lifetime to I was reminded oddly of being in a pet shop and having to choose between which of the puppies was the cutest. Cocking my head to the side and taking a sip of my drink I tapped my foot and let my eyes scan the crowd one last time before they settled on a scrawny girl fiddling with a pen and parchment. She looked like she was about ready to wet herself. Why not test it?
I approached her, making perfectly sure not to stumble too much and make a fool of myself. Once I was close enough I made a gesture for her to come to the side. Luckily, she caught it and hauled her photographer along with her.
"I'm a very close friend of Harry Potter's and he wishes to give an interview to dispel some recent rumors that have been circulating about him." I whispered trying to sound professional, and, well, not drunk. As soon as the words left my mouth the girls eyes widened like saucers. "Would you be interested?"
She nodded her head frantically in agreement.
After about half an hour of shuffling people about I, along with the help of the twins, had secured a private room with the reporter, whose name was Maggie, and her photographer to interview Harry in.
"So, Mr. Potter please tell me about your relationship with Adeline Lewis." Maggie asked breathlessly.
"Oh, well I'm quite happy." Harry said energetically. He sounded pretty genuine. "We met through her father, who happens to be my coach, and just hit it off immediately. I'm really enjoying being with her. She makes me feel special."
"Would you call it love?" Maggie asked, gaining a bit of confidence after her first question was so well received.
"I don't know." Harry said shyly. "Maybe." Merlin could that boy act if the situation suited his mood.
"Come on." I whispered under my breath. "Ask it." George had to nudge my foot to get me to not be too loud and Fred had to slip another drink into my hands so I had something to keep my mouth occupied.
"What do you and Ms. Lewis do on a typical day?" Maggie asked.
"Drat." I swore lightly finishing off my glass. Fred and George gave me identical frowns.
"We do whatever suits us at the time. Bunny and I have very similar tastes." Addie said with a cocky grin.
"Bunny?" Maggie asked.
"Whoops." Harry said offhandedly. "Didn't mean to let that one slip."
"Is she here with you tonight?" Maggie finally asked the question I had been waiting for.
"Yes." Harry said confidently.
"Where is she now?" Maggie asked.
"I don't really know." Harry said sadly. "I'm sure she's around here somewhere though." He gave a very dramatic sigh and pasted on a half-hearted smile looking properly confused.
The interview continued on for another half an hour with Maggie asking all kinds of questions. I still wasn't sure which newspaper she was writing for. Once Harry and the cameraman and Harry had left the room she came up to talk to me.
"I just wanted to say thank you for giving me this opportunity." Maggie said shyly. She was blushing. "You've saved my career."
"Oh." I said. I was a little shocked. "Well, thank you, I guess." I managed to slip away after that.
As soon as I re-emerged into the party Aidan cornered me.
"Where'd you get off to?" He asked.
"Places." I replied evasively.
I wanted him to go away. I wasn't in the mood to hear about brilliance and writing, and plus, my head felt really fuzzy and I was having a hard time standing up. Stupid alcohol. But I remembered hearing somewhere that to cure the effects of alcohol you were supposed to have more. Yes, that sounded about right.
"I saw you with Harry Potter." Aidan said casually, but he was obviously hinting at something.
"Well, you know he's an old friend and after seeing Addie doing, you know." I lowered my voice and waggled my eyebrows at him. Aidan laughed. "I had to talk to him about our plan."
"Your plan?" Aidan asked curiously.
"It's very clever." I said importantly. "And I came up with it."
"Care to explain then." It was more of a request than a question. I didn't have much choice as Aidan sat me down at an empty table, pushed a bottle of fire whiskey towards me, and then proceeded in staring at me expectantly.
I swallowed nervously and felt myself growing hot. I took a deep drink of my whiskey and tried to change the subject a few times only to have Aidan steer it back to the plan. Stupid mouth of mine.
"What plan." He repeated, although not unkindly. He seemed genuinely interested.
Oh well, what could it hurt? I mean, he was nice. And he was a 'tortured' artist. If anyone he would be able to see the inner irony of the whole situation. Who knows, if he rubbed me the right way I might even let him turn it into a novel in a few years.
"Promise not tell anyone." My words were distinctly slurred now.
"Promise." Aidan whispered.
"Harry broke up with Addie long time ago, but she wouldn't go away. She's evil. Now me and Harry make her go down." I smiled at myself before I lowered my head to rest against the cold table.
"Let me help you home." Aidan's voice was very far away. I didn't have the strength to protest as I felt him apparate us away. I was, however, aware enough to remember that I hadn't given him my address.
-
I stretched on the bed languidly the next morning trying to ignore the incessant pounding in my head. No such luck. Nothing a couple glasses of coffee and a brisk walk couldn't fix.
I tried to roll over onto my stomach but found myself blocked by something. I opened my eyes slowly, and…shit.
Aidan was lying next to me, naked at least from the waste up. Resisting the urge to cry I lifted the sheets up and looked down. Then I actually started crying.
I wasn't wearing anything. Aidan wasn't wearing anything. And I was painfully aware of fuzzy memories of rushed movements and sweaty skin.
I fell out of the bed and rushed around the room until I could locate all of my clothes. I dressed faster than I've ever dressed before in my life.
I was almost out of that hellhole when I felt someone's hand on my shoulder. I spun around to see Aidan grinning cockily at me.
"Hello precious." He purred, swaying towards me seductively.
"No." I said shakily holding my hand out and stopping him.
"What's wrong?" He cooed.
"I need to know what happened last night." I demanded as my tears clouded my eyes. His expression changed immediately.
"You know what happened." He said tersely.
"What did you do?" I gasped out.
"What did I do?" He asked incredulously. "You wanted it just as much as I did."
"I was drunk, Aidan." I was surprised I could even remember his name. "You practically raped me."
"Don't accuse me of that." He growled.
"I couldn't even walk straight and you thought I was coherent enough to agree to shagging you." I screeched, holding my head in my hands.
Aidan began approaching me again but I stumbled away from him gripping tightly to the walls.
"Stay away from me." I said firmly. "Stay away."
"Ginny." Aidan's face softened. "I care about you. We can work through this."
"No." I shook my head. "I don't want to see you again." I sobbed.
"Ginny." Aidan's face was icy. "I really fancy you."
"I don't care." I yelled. "Just stay away." I was a slut. I was like Addie. I was worse than Addie. I was dirty.
"I know some pretty interesting stuff about you Ginny." Aidan said coolly.
That stopped me in my tracks. I wanted to sink into the floor or just die, but he knew something. I couldn't go.
"You poured out your heart last night. I suggest you let me take you out to dinner, or I may have to let some of it slip to the press." He said ruthlessly.
"No." I whispered unsteadily.
"Yes." He said rigidly. "I'm the son of a politician, I know how to get what I want." But then his face was kind. "I really like you Ginny, and I'm sorry it happened like this, but I will get a chance to show you how I feel."
"I have to go." I mumbled. "I have to leave."
"Alright." Aidan held the door open. "I'll find where you live and we'll talk about going out."
I nodded jerkily and apparated out of that place as fast as I could.
I had meant to end up back at my flat, but for some reason, landed in the front of Ron and Harry's flat. I was too shaken to care.
I rang the doorbell and sank down to the floor. I was all put crying in broad daylight and I didn't care. My slinky dress was hanging off me limply and my hair was roughed up. I looked properly manhandled.
Both Harry and Ron answered the door. It was like they had been waiting for someone.
One look from Ron and a warm embrace from Harry told me that it had been me.