Chapter 27- With a Little Help from My Friends
-
Blaise paced behind the statue of Bertha the Behemoth while she waited for a certain boy to pass by. The corridors were chilly on the last Thursday morning in January, but she wasn't moving to try and keep warm. Instead, the physical action reflected her inner agitation.
Was she really going to do this? A slim Gryffindor was approaching. She stepped into the shadow of Bertha's generous backside and whispered, "Psssttt...Creevey...Colin...get over here!" She pulled him out of the sight of the passing students.
He asked, "What's up?"
Blaise looked away, to screw her courage to the sticking place, as Shakespeare would put it. "I just wanted to...say thanks...for being so...erm...nice...when I was...you know...out of it."
Colin's face became angelic when he smiled, which made her suspicious. "I didn't mind hanging out with you in the library. You did some--helped--me with my homework."
"It was an hour or two every night, and no one wants to hang with a zombie, not even for tutoring. Just admit it, you were being a friend, and I think you're really..." Blaise narrowed her eyes. "If you tell anyone I said this, I will hex you, but...you were sweet, and now...I feel like I owe you one."
Colin smiled. "You want to pay me back, is that it?"
"Yeah."
"What did you have in mind?"
His eyes were almost on the same level as hers. They were twinkling. He wanted to make her to say it. She bent the slight distance between them, muttering irritably, "Inuit Friendship Ritual."
After frowning at the boy chuckling at her euphemism for 'Eskimo Kissing,' she rubbed the tip of her nose against the tip of his nose and then continued up its length. Once he felt the slide of her skin against his, Colin stopped laughing, and a glint appeared in his eyes. She recognised that gleam from when he had looked at her with Draco's face.
Alarmed, but determined to go through with the thing, she lowered her gaze to the nose hers was gliding along slowly. Blaise told herself the movement was friendly, not sensual. The way Colin held her face in his hands while he took over the ritual and thrust his nose along hers in a firm, pressing motion was just...extremely friendly. When he backed her against the statue, however, that was too friendly. Blaise forcibly pushed the puppy away.
Incorrigible, he laughed. "Was my nose as good as Malfoy's?"
She backed away and rolled her eyes. "Apples and oranges, fifth year. Malfoy is a classic, perfect apple and you..." Smiling at the way his face fell, she said, "You're an adorable orange."
He flashed a smug grin.
Blaise said, "That doesn't mean I want to squeeze you, Creevey!"
"That's okay. Rubbing me was thanks enough, especially since you already agreed to sing another song in Muggle Studies with me."
Her jaw dropped. "What? I never...oh...last Wednesday...you wanted me to look at some song lyrics...but I don't remember agreeing to sing."
"Did you look at the song?"
"The duet between one of the Weird Sisters and the lead singer of a werewolf band, yeah, the lyrics were simple, and sad. I can't sing the girl's part, though. It's too bloody high."
"I'll sing it, then, and you can sing the bloke's part. It doesn't matter." Her heart sank when he smiled angelically, the little devil. "I told Professor Hands we'd sing it in class today, so you might want to practise."
As Colin strutted past her, Blaise wondered how she got herself into these kinds of messes. Then she remembered: she was the biggest sucker in Slytherin House.
Inside the Hall, she pretended the Gryffindor table didn't exist. Terry's dark blue eyes brightened when he saw her, causing her a twinge of guilt over rubbing another boy's nose, even in friendship. Blaise made herself feel better by stopping and giving her boyfriend a brief, but heart-felt kiss before gliding on to sit by Draco.
She asked Goyle if he was looking forward to Hogsmeade weekend.
He answered out of the corner of a mouth stuffed with food, "Sure!"
That scintillating conversation over, Blaise tried to pretend she was incredibly interested in her breakfast. It didn't work. Draco bumped his shoulder into hers. "You're doing a good job of covering. Boot doesn't suspect a thing, but I've known you too long. What did you do?"
"I thanked Creevey for sitting with me in the library every night when I was mental."
White-blond eyebrows lifted. "How exactly did you thank the little pervert? If you think he was just being an ickle nice boy, you are still mental. One of those nights I caught him being 'nice' by holding your hand...and kissing it."
She stared. "I don't remember that."
"You don't remember a lot of things, including Creevey looking at you the way a necrophiliac looks at a girl's corpse that's not yet stiff."
"Eeuwww...that's disgusting!"
"I agree, so again, what did you do?"
Determined to take the memory of the second Inuit Friendship Ritual to her grave, Blaise made a face. "I'm going to sing another song with him in Muggle Studies."
"Hufflepuff."
Her lower lip poked out. Why was she such a sap? The next time she ran into Creevey, she was going to shove him into a wall. Well, she'd ignore him, at least.
Draco chuckled and tapped her bottom lip with a fingertip. "Stop pouting, and remember to keep your Hufflepuff tendencies in check...except when it comes to me."
Her giggles made Crabbe and Goyle laugh too, spraying Pansy and Millicent with bits of egg and making them shriek in anger. Humour restored, Blaise asked, "Enjoying detention?" The way Draco's upper right lip curled reminded her of his mother--or a Muggle rocker named Billy Idol. On him, disdain looked good.
"Enduring detention, actually. Who besides a lovesick fool like you would enjoy testing potions with an Ape-Man?"
Not wanting to embarrass him with her girly sentimentality, she said while picking up a berry, "Terry told me you wouldn't give up our friendship. Thanks."
"All part of being friends lifelong, good or bad."
She laughed. "Right or wrong."
"What are you talking about?"
The cool, demanding voice behind them made Blaise jump.
Snape clipped, "I came to excuse you from your detention tonight, Mr. Malfoy. I will be...away...and therefore will not see you again. Next week you may report to Flitwick for the remainder of your detention." The shrewd gaze narrowed. "I ask again, to what were you referring, with your talk of good or bad, right or wrong?"
Draco said calmly, while avoiding the Potion Master's gaze, "Nothing sir. It's only a silly rhyme."
Blaise fought the compulsion to look into Snape's eyes. She knew he would see something she didn't want him to if she did. Like the image of a candlelit room.
After a tense moment, the professor said, "I hope for your sakes, it was only a silly rhyme. If it was something else, such as Dark magic, sometimes referred to by ignorant children as love magic--I would be very displeased."
Should she nod her head or shake it? Apparently, their confusion was reassuring to the sardonic teacher, who bid them good day before stalking down to give Terry the good news of the cancelled detention.
Draco said, "Yeah, right, love magic. Friendship rituals are not Dark. Snape's an old woman, jumping at shadows. I'm not going to let him ruin my plans for the weekend."
Blaise nodded her agreement and leaned out to return Terry's warm smile.
That afternoon in Muggle Studies, she stood beside Creevey while he strummed his guitar. A darting glance revealed that Ginny was snorting like a weasel behind her hand and Luna was trying not to laugh.
The rest of the class was waiting eagerly for the odd couple to sing another song for their twisted enjoyment. Blaise shot a dagger-filled glare at the boy who should have been ducking. Instead, he sat up straighter and looked even more eager. After he finished the intro, she sighed inwardly and sang her part of Broken.
The song was about a broken romance. A few of the girls wiped away tears while they sang. Strangely cheered by the stricken expressions of the class, Blaise muttered at the end, "Don't expect any more thanks, Creevey."
His pseudo-innocent gaze made her want to smack him with his guitar. For the rest of class, she drew hearts with ZB, TB inside them onto parchment. Blaise listened with half an ear as Hands pontificated on about how heartened he was to know that after his brilliant tutelage, they were all satisfactorily knowledgeable on the subject of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.
"Is there anything you would care to add, Miss Zabini?"
She said, "For man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion..." Blaise met Ginny's smiling gaze and continued, "I did think to have beaten thee; but in that thou art like to be my kinsman, live unbruised and love my cousin."
Soft brown eyes looked astounded, as if the freckle-faced 'Beatrice' hadn't connected the dots between the play and her matchmaking friends until just now.
After an open-mouthed moment, Ginny smiled from ear-to-ear. Blaise winked, then looked at Luna and thought of how Potter was making an arse out of himself over another girl. She quoted the last lines of the play. They were very apt. "Think not on him till to-morrow: I'll devise thee brave punishments for him."
Impulsively, she stood and told Colin, "Strike up the pipers."
Colin began playing some Muggle Tune, a song asking if they were going to Scarborough Fair. He sang in a lilting rhythm that sounded like something Shakespeare would have liked.
Luna smiled mistily and rose to her feet, holding out a hand to Ginny and Blaise. She said dreamily, "Come, come, we are friends. Let's have a dance...that we may lighten our hearts."
They danced up the aisle and then around Colin in a circle to the applause of the class and the genial approval of the professor, who seemed to get a Victorian thrill out of seeing feminine wrists and ankles.
Only the three girls knew why they were laughing so hard and having so much fun.
-
-
As Luna talked to Wesley at dinner, she realised that sitting next to a charming pirate was lovely in many ways. Feeling his thigh press against hers was one. Being able to look into his merry blue eyes and see the smile that made her day brighter was another.
Added to the other benefits was having her back to Harry Potter. Not being able to see the former boy of her dreams sitting by the girl she tried not to hate made the meal that much more pleasant. She listened to Wesley and Terry talk about the upcoming Saturday with a content smile. It was Hogsmeade weekend and Blaise wanted to have a picnic in the Shrieking Shack. The boys were mulling the idea over.
Wesley asked, "How about you, Luna? Are you willing to brave the Shrieking Shack for a picnic?"
She hid a smile. "Just a picnic?"
Golden eyebrows waggled. Her pulse accelerated. "We could play Spin the Bottle or Truth or Dare. I know what I'd dare you to do."
A blush crept up her chest and heated her cheeks.
Wesley smiled in a way that made her long to touch his dimples--with her tongue. "Do you think I'd dare you to do something naughty? Smart girl."
A commotion two tables over made the Ravenclaws turn their heads and stare.
Luna's insides twisted. Harry Potter and That Girl were arguing. Mouths dropped and eyes widened when the girl tossed her pumpkin juice into Harry's face. Students gasped when he returned the gesture. Averting her eyes from the food fight that spread to the entire Gryffindor table, Luna's eyes met Wesley's. He smiled, hearing McGonagall shout for order.
When the two instigators were banished to their House, he leaned close to be heard over the roar of gossip. "If we ever play with food, I promise not to throw it. I'll feed it to you."
A bowl of strawberries appeared on the table. Oh dear, had the elves taken her desire literally? The boy chuckling beside her was reaching for one with his elegant fingers when Mindy's spiteful voice was heard. "My, my, how stormy and passionate Potter is about his new girlfriend. Don't you agree Luna?"
"Agree with what?"
The bared teeth presented as a smile reminded Luna of a rabid animal that needed to be put down. "Agree that you've never seen Harry Potter so hot and bothered over a girl before...and that they're probably having it off right this minute."
"Right this minute? I don't think the stairs would be very comfortable." Luna said mildly, "How interested you are in other people's love lives. I suppose it's because you don't have one of your own."
"I could have one if..."
"If you weren't such a bitch that no one would have you unless you got a personality transplant or an exorcism?" Luna smiled thinly. "True, but I bet I see a Crumpled-Horn Snorkack before that happens."
Wesley stood and pulled Luna away. Outside the Hall, he let go of her arm and bent over, laughing until he had to wipe tears from the corners of his eyes. His laughter was so infectious she chuckled too.
He lifted her off the floor in a hug and spun her around. "Merlin, you're beautiful when you're angry! I bow before your wit and beauty."
She giggled to see his elaborate bow. His words made her feel like a bold wench, so Luna took Wesley's hand and led him up the stairs to the room that was just what she needed.
He examined the moth-eaten tapestry of a wizard being clubbed by trolls with lifted brow. "Trying to teach Trolls ballet? Barmy." Eyes that were bluer than the sea after a storm narrowed. "Where did that door come from? It wasn't there before."
"It's the door to the Room of Requirement."
Flashing dimples, Wesley said, "I've always wondered if this room was real or just another school legend. What's inside?"
"Come and see."
He gallantly opened the door and waved her inside.
Luna walked into the room and felt the ocean breeze, saw the sun setting in brilliant colours on the horizon she was viewing from the deck of the only pirate ship in the world named True Love. Looking down, she laughed. The bodice of her gown was square necked and scandalously low. It was made of some thin material that clung to her legs in a way that made it clear no petticoats were underneath.
A gentle touch at the base of her neck where a curl had escaped her upswept hair made her spin around and forget to breathe. Wesley was...Oh Wesley...dressed in black from head to toe.
He gestured to his outfit with a black gloved hand. "I'm glad I finally got round to reading that Princess Bride book. Who knows what I might have thought otherwise. Perhaps that you have a fetish for masked men?"
Luna, emboldened by his smile and the fantasy brought to life, raised his hand to her lips and kissed the palm. "You must admit, you make a wonderful Dread Pirate Roberts."
He pulled her close. "Everyone knows the Dread Pirate Roberts never takes prisoners, Buttercup."
"I'm not your prisoner."
He looked away to where the sun was bathing the horizon in a reddish glow that spread across the ocean. When he glanced back, his eyes searched hers. Wesley said in a light tone contradicted by the seriousness of his eyes, "You've taken me prisoner, Luna...or to be more exact, bold pirate lass that you are, you've captured my heart, and the rest of me comes with it."
She looked down. Her gown had changed into a black shirt and breeches tucked into boots. She was a pirate! Luna reached up and touched her mask, pulled it off her face and felt her hair fall down.
Her heart was thudding. The wind picked up and blew long strands of hair into a curtain separating them. Tender hands brushed them aside. In Wesley's eyes, she saw everything she'd wanted to see in Harry's but never had. She shook her head. "Why?"
His brows drew together. "Why not? Do you think because Potter's blind, everyone else is too? We've spent enough time together that I think I know you. You're beautiful, and smart, loyal, and brave, funny and..." His face became intent. "Every time I see you, I want to kiss you...and every time I kiss you, I never want to stop. I don't want to be your 'kissing friend' anymore. I want to be your boyfriend."
The sky became cloudy while the sea began to get choppy. Waves broke against the side of the ship, splashing the couple staring into each other's eyes. Luna wanted to reach for what Wesley was offering, but she knew she would have to let go of the dream...of a love someday with Harry...and she had clung to that hope for so long.
Luna braced herself as the deck began to tilt with the force of the waves. She watched a barrel roll over the side and float away.
She made a decision, and the joy it gave far outweighed the sadness. The wind became soft and balmy. She moved close and reached up to caress the face that meant so much to her. She whispered, "If I have your heart, it's only fair that you take mine." Untying his mask, Luna reached up to brush Wesley's lips with hers. She slid her hands up his chest.
Wesley deepened the kiss as they sailed into the sunset. Lovingly, he murmured, "As You Wish."
-
Later, after practically floating up the girls' staircase in happiness, Luna found her three roommates waiting up for her. Mindy's face was red and splotchy from crying. Bindy and Cindy stood with crossed arms looking at the other girl.
Bindy prompted, "Wasn't there something you wanted to say Mindy?"
Sniffing and pushing back her hair, Mindy took a step toward Luna. "I'm sorry for being so hateful. I was jealous because you have Wesley and I don't have anybody because..." Her pale face crumpled. "because I'm a b...bitch that needs a per...personality transplant or an...exorcism!"
Luna almost smiled. How silly those words sounded now! Cindy's eyes sparkled over the hand she was keeping over her mouth.
Bindy said, "I could go to the library and look up personality transplant spells for you. What kind of person do you want to be instead? Please don't pick dumb blonde...or blonde bimbo...or blonde bombshell..."
Cindy offered in an exaggeratedly breathy, 'dumb blonde' voice, "I could do an exorcism...I think... I watched a Muggle film once, so if I could find some holy water." She scratched her head. "How do you put holes in water?"
Mindy gave a watery smile. Luna handed her a much needed handkerchief, saying thoughtfully, "You know, Snorkacks haven't been spotted in over two hundred years. I think there's a good chance that we could find a boy who thinks bitchy is sexy before someone actually sees one."
"Really?"
Luna smiled. She knew a blond Gryffindor who seemed to think snarky was sexy. Maybe he would like bitchy too.
The thought of Colin and Mindy made her chuckle as the friends all hugged and changed into their nightclothes before climbing into their beds. Before she dreamt of The Sexy Pirate Roberts helping her out of a corset, Luna thought of a way to introduce Mindy to Colin and whispered laughingly, "Once a matchmaker, always a matchmaker."
-
-
All day Thursday, Ginny felt like something bad was going to happen. She had felt what her Gran had called 'twinges' before, and they were no bloody good for anything other than to give her warning to brace herself.
Like when she'd picked up that diary of Tom Riddle's, or when her father had been bitten. The day Umbridge arrived she'd felt a 'twinge' and the day Sirius... Ginny shook off morbid thoughts, and decided to do something unusual after dinner--homework.
Normally, she ran off to study the way Draco's body felt beneath his robes and how long she could kiss him without coming up for air. Ginny was blessed with Bill's ability to speed-read and could study for tests or toss off essays and other assignments in a fraction of the time it took Ron.
The skill had come in handy. Schoolwork was something she rushed through in order to learn more about her favourite subject, Draco Malfoy.
Inside her dorm room, Ginny sat at her desk and speedily read two yawn-inducing History of Magic chapters, scratched out an essay, and worked through a page of Arithmancy equations. Setting aside her quill and rolling her parchments up with a thankful sigh, she glanced at her timepiece.
Draco had a Quidditch workout and strategy session and wouldn't be meeting her for another hour. Whatever could she do until then? Her gaze drifted over to her bed. She grinned and jumped on it, pulling the curtains shut and lying in the shrouded interior with a dreamy smile on her face.
If she couldn't be with her boyfriend, daydreaming about him was the next best thing. Closing her eyes, a vivid scene flashed into Ginny's mind.
-
She was the daughter of a Saxon Lord. From her tower room, she watched Norman invaders pour into the courtyard below.
They had battered down the gates!
Brown eyes darted around the chamber and fixed on the hunting knife one of her six brothers had left for her protection. She grasped the handle and hid it within the folds of her skirt. Outside her chamber, men shouted and then a horrible thud sounded. They were breaking down her door!
Standing with her back to the wall beside her window seat, the maid's delicate face tightened in determination. She waited to see the face of the man who would try and claim her. He would meet his death instead.
Lock broken, the door swung open and a knight strode into the chamber. Her fingers clenched around the hilt until the man took off his helmet. Staring at the white-blond hair framing the face of a fallen angel, the maiden remembered how they had met at a tournament in France. This knight had lost the final joust to her eldest brother, but he had won her heart at the feast.
The Norman had promised to ask her father for her hand in marriage, but instead had left in the night. She shouted, "Liar! Craven, base, privy-foul cur! How dare you show your face in England after breaking your vow to me and leaving for another bloody tournament without a word...you...you..."
Silvery eyes glinted. "Betrayed suitor, who met with your father and learned that milord would send you to a nunnery ere he allowed you to marry Norman scum? Who was beaten nigh unto death by your cowardly brothers and left in a ditch to die?"
His spurs clinked when he walked toward her, eyes blazing. "Didst thou think I would give up my wife so easily? My prisoners wait below with the priest. They will witness our marriage and then..." Removing a gauntlet, the man touched her soft cheek, slid his fingers into her red hair as he smiled with wicked tenderness. "We will have our second wedding night."
Her hand released the dagger. It clattered onto the floor. The moment his lips parted hers she held tight to the only man she had ever loved, and vowed she would never allow her family to separate them again.
The knowledge that he had never willingly left her, had fought to reclaim her, healed her wounded heart and filled her with such overwhelming love that she backed toward the bed with a beguiling smile. "Why don't we--tarry--and make it our third wedding night?"
Never had she imagined a knight could disrobe so speedily.
-
"I'm telling you, the picture I took with my goblin spy camera will get us all the Galleons we need to invest for our own studio once we leave this so-called place of learning."
About to open her curtains and blast the roommate who had ruined the best bloody daydream of her life, Ginny paused when the words registered. A cold 'twinge' shuddered down her spine. She sat up and wrapped her arms around her knees, listening.
"But Ros, what if Zabini won't pay to get the photograph?"
Ginny didn't need to part the curtains to imagine her blonde roommate talking to her sister Esmee, a shy brunette seventh year who always followed where her sister led.
The satisfaction that couldn't be seen on Rosaline Kell's face could be heard in her voice. "Our little rich girl will pay, Esmee. That Ravenclaw she's mental about almost dumped her over a tame picture. He'll never speak to her again if he sees the one I took of Zabini and Malfoy practically having it off." Cool laughter rang out.
Hesitant chuckles followed before Esmee asked, "But what if something happens to that photograph? It's the only one, and since goblin film develops magically...can't be copied...what if you sat your teacup on it? Or spilled pumpkin juice...or..."
"I'm too smart for that, although it sounds like something you'd do. I've got a secret hiding place for my little investment, and the only way Zabini will lay her hands on it is if she pays, and pays quickly. If this works out, I'll try it one more time, with Professor Lorelei. That shot of her snogging some bloke while he felt her up should be worth a thousand Galleons, at least."
"Have you sent Zabini the note yet? What if she traces it?"
An exasperated sigh was heard. "I had it flown in by owl at dinner, so no, she can't trace it. Come along, I want to develop some more film. I'm experimenting with double exposures."
"Can't I go paint instead, Ros? I don't like smelly chemicals."
"Zip it, Esmee. Paint tomorrow when there's more light, so you won't strain your eyes."
The voices were at the door now.
"More light? But aren't we going to a darkroom? Ouch! Why'd you pinch me Ros?"
Ginny waited for footsteps to fade, resisting the urge to go hex the devious Rosaline until she spilled the location of the photograph. She wondered what to do. A knock on the door sounded.
A timid girl's voice said, "Hulloo? Is anyone in here? Colin Creevey asked me to come up and tell Ginny to come downstairs. Says someone wants to talk to you in the corridor outside. So, I guess I'll tell him I told...er...someone?"
Ginny opened the bed curtains and waved to the third year--one of many giggly younger girls who thought Colin 'cute'--and followed her downstairs as if she was taking a trip to Madame Guillotine.
At the bottom of the staircase, Colin said, "Thanks Genevieve...I mean Gillian...Georgina?"
The girl looked ecstatic that he finally had her name right. Ginny thanked Georgina too as she allowed Colin to drag her outside.
A hooded, cloaked figure stood in the shadows around the corner from the entrance corridor. A slender hand held out an envelope. The paper looked white against honey-coloured skin. Ginny took the note and began to read.
Some pictures are worth a thousand words. The picture I took of you and Malfoy on New Year's Eve is worth twice that in Galleons. All that kissing and groping would be very upsetting to a loved one. If you don't want the photograph falling into the wrong hands, exchange the galleons for the picture behind the Hog's Head Tavern Saturday at one. Come alone.
"Could you even get that kind of money?" Colin asked.
Blaise pushed her hood down. "Sure. Doesn't matter, though. I wouldn't give two Galleons, much less two thousand. What I need is for you to tell me if you know who took the picture, Red, and help me figure out a way to stop them."
The couple of times that Draco had called Blaise 'a kindler, gentler Lady Macbeth', Ginny had thought him joking. The look on the Slytherin girl's face made her realise he wasn't.
She said unhappily, "It's roommate Rosaline Kells and her sister Esmee. Draco and I saw Ros at the party, bumped into her on the way back from the veranda, where..." Ginny took a deep breath. "I didn't mean to...and she had a spy camera...there's only one picture...I heard her tell that to Esmee up in our dorm. I was hidden on my bed behind the curtains. I'm so sorry..."
"That's nice, Ginevra, but not much help now."
At the beginning of school, that cold drawl would have made her mad, caused her to storm away. Knowing the intense feelings Slytherins like Draco...and Blaise...sometimes hid behind an icy facade, Ginny placed her hand on the other girl's arm. Encouraged when it wasn't shrugged off, she asked, "Did you tell Draco?"
"Don't you think he'd be here vowing to hex someone's private areas if he knew? This isn't a job for a Black Knight chopping off heads with a sword. It's a job for witches."
"What are we going to do?" Ginny asked, ignoring Colin's indignant protest that he wanted to help, and they had better not consider him another witch.
Dark brown eyes gave her the 'Lady Macbeth' stare. "You got us into this mess, Hot Lips, you think of a way to get us out of it."
Involuntarily, Ginny snickered. "Hot Lips?"
Colin snorted. "You should hear what she called Draco!"
A blush crept up freckled cheeks. "Don't tell me!" Looking at the other girl, she asked hesitantly, "Are you really...angry...we broke our promise?"
Blaise said dryly, "I did think to have beaten theebut since I know that Draco told you...you know...and I'm no saint who's never gotten a bit...carried away...I just want to get rid of that photo."
Colin piped up. "What did Malfoy tell you?"
Ginny smiled, more relieved that Blaise didn't hold a grudge than amused over Colin's artless question. He continued to pester them for an answer until Blaise nudged his shoulder with hers and Colin bumped into a wall.
He protested, "Hey, you said you'd never shove me into a wall!"
"That was a love tap compared to what you'll get if you don't shut it, fifth year."
The expression on Colin's face was hilarious, thrilled and sly. "Love tap, eh? I knew you'd fall for me sooner or later."
Blaise rolled her eyes. "You're going to fall down some stairs if you don't cut it out."
Colin's laughter was contagious, and the girls' soon joined his, even though Blaise's laugh sounded reluctant. A dark brow arched when the Slytherin noticed the direction of their steps. "Why are we headed back to your common room?"
Ginny's face tightened with purpose. "Because the person we need to make this all go away is in Gryffindor. It's Lorelei...uhm...her sister. Put your hood back on and step back while I say the password."
After the fat lady finished warbling an aria, she acknowledged the password, 'Carpe Diem' and commented, "So many hooded people nowadays. Why hide, sweetie? I was telling the Hufflepuff guardian Pollyanna just the other week that I would never repeat gossip like that Slytherin hussy, who I heard let that snake..."
Trying desperately not to form mental images that might make it even harder to sleep at night, Ginny dashed through the portrait hole with Blaise and Colin right behind her. Inside, she saw the person she was looking for jump up from the sofa, away from Harry.
"Ronan! Over here!" called Ginny.
A sound of frustration escaped the girl as she rounded on the boy who had followed her. "Go away, Harry! Ginny and I already made plans, and you're not invited. Right, Ginny?"
Surprised, but happy to agree to anything that got the girl/woman out of Gryffindor Tower, Ginny nodded. One hand rising to mess up his already disastrous hair, Harry protested, but 'Ronan' refused to listen.
Ginny felt a 'twinge' so strong it made her stomach clench, but thankfully, Ronan didn't want to work things out with Harry and rushed out of the chamber.
Colin shook his head in disbelief over his hero's behaviour as they followed. "Harry really is Potty!"
Blaise snickered beneath her hood. "About time you Gryffindors realised it. Slytherins knew first year."
"Quiet you two. We need...Ronan...and I don't want comments like that putting her off, so let me do the talking."
The three walked toward the end of the corridor where the upset girl stood crossing her arms and thinking thoughts Ginny couldn't begin to guess. She motioned for the 'girl' to come round the corner out of the sight of the petulant guardian.
Once informed about their mutual problem, the professor who wouldn't appear to be a student much longer said, "I'll go have a...talk...with the enterprising Rosaline and Esmee. I don't like to brag, but my voice is...irresistible...and I'll make them an offer they can't refuse. They're in the Dungeon Three darkroom. I saw Ms. Kell's name on the sign up sheet in Sev...Snape's office." Pausing, she looked at the three students thoughtfully, before asking, "After I destroy the pictured, how about we go to Hogsmeade, have a relaxing night out? I need one...badly."
Ginny said, "How could we go to the pub without Rosmerta telling Dumbledore about it?"
"I have access to a Personae Falsus potion that will make us look like a group of strangers having a night out, instead of naughty students...and yes, Colin, I do know stealing is wrong, that's why I'm using my sister's stores. She told me to help myself."
Blaise asked if Terry and Draco were invited.
"The more the merrier, as long as they tell no one before or after our outing."
'Ronan' arranged to meet them in an hour in the courtyard near the front entrance. Watching her walk away, Ginny looked forward to celebrating later.
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Draco ignored the little pervert Creevey's gaping at a Malfoy holding a Weasley's hand to smirk at his girlfriend. "A good little Gryffindor is actually going to sneak out of the castle. What is the world coming to?"
Ginny laughed. Draco let go of her hand to slide his arm around her waist. She leaned against him and sighed.
The 'girl' who stepped into the courtyard echoed the sigh. "Young love, how sweet. Don't look hopeful, Colin. You're only getting a kiss on the cheek...in celebration."
Lorelei...Ronan...Merlin he'd be happy to go back to calling her 'professor'...made the little Potter groupie's day with a kiss. It was disturbing to see adults looking and acting like students. Shouldn't they behave with more dignity or something?
Draco was heartily thankful he hadn't seen 'Ronan' snogging Snape. The only thing worse was watching her dramas with Potter. The other girls smiled at her words. Maybe they knew what she was celebrating. He didn't give a toss. He only wanted to spend time with his girlfriend.
The black-haired wench passed him a small vial. She explained, handing out others, "The larger quantity of potion you drink, the longer the efficacy, which is why you have a vial, instead of a flagon. We'll have a little over two hours before the effects wear off. Cheers!"
Pulling out the cork and drinking the stuff, which tasted like peppermint, Draco stared at Ginny. She had long, blondish-brown hair, slightly different features, and tanned skin with no freckles. Her eyes were still milk-chocolate brown and her smile was the same too. He smiled in relief.
She gasped, "Oh Draco...you've got...short brown hair...and brown eyes!"
Looking at his hands, which weren't quite as fair-skinned as usual, Draco laughed. He had always wondered what he would look like if he was tall dark and handsome instead of pale perfection.
He noted the changes in the rest of the group. Lorelei had white-blonde shoulder length hair and a fringe with blue eyes. She looked like someone, but he couldn't think who. Blaise had green eyes and long auburn hair with a fringe that was feathered back. Her current pale features were familiar too.
Boot had long white-blond hair, two side strands pulled back and tied to keep his girly-locks out of his face now sporting bright blue eyes. He looked like a bloody wood elf. Blaise sure liked it, plastered to his side, playing with his hair and calling him some weird name...Legolas.
Creevey was the most bizarre transformation of all. Still average height for a boy, and slender, he now looked like a bloke in his mid-twenties with a square jawed, tanned face, shaggy blond hair with a fringe and piercing dark eyes. Those eyes were currently giving the elf running his hands over the leggy girl beside him a look of dislike. The twisted lips transformed into a smile when 'Ronan' came over and pinched his cheek.
"You look so much like a certain Aussie actor that I'm going to call you 'Heath'."
Creevey...Heath...bloody stupid name...grinned. "I know who you look like--Anna. Blaise is Frida, huh?"
Blaise grabbed and stared at her long reddish brown hair,
"No way. We are not ABBA look-alikes. Why did you do that to us?"
"Tonight's disco night, and Zabinis are known for boogie fever, so don't even try and say you don't know every bloody ABBA song. I think you can sing one with me. You owe me one."
As Blaise shrugged and went back to cooing over the Prince of the Woodland Elves, Ginny asked, "Who are we?"
Creepy-Creevey laughed like the fool he was. "If you'd watched Muggle telly, you'd know he's Angel...and you're Buffy...fer sure...like, totally, you know?"
"Buffy?"
Draco saw Ginny didn't appear to relish her name either. He scowled. Would he ever get away from the angel stereotype? Angel of Light, Angel of Darkness, Fallen Angel--he'd rather be called a love god...or any god...except the ugly ones.
Ronan said Buffy and Angel were quite the romantic pair, so he reluctantly agreed to answer to the ridiculous name. If Draco had his way, though, he'd call himself Spike. He noticed the blonde waving her wand, and saw that the group now appeared to be dressed in an assortment of black clothing except for 'Anna', who was clothed in white. She said it went with the ABBA image better.
Uncaring, Draco pulled his girl by the tanned hand toward Hogsmeade. Blaise unlocked her lips from the bloke who looked like he should be carrying a bow and arrows to follow. Colin and the barmy professor brought up the rear.
To say their group made an entrance was an understatement. Every single conversation halted. Even the music stopped as heads turned and the locals stared at the exotic group of people sauntering into their pub.
Rosmerta strolled over to take their order. "So, what can I get you, folks?"
"Butterbeer for them, and something with an itty bitty pink umbrella in it for me."
The attractive proprietor's delicate brows arched. She looked closer at the Nordic blonde-haired woman. A smile twitched the corners of her mouth. "Sure you can...handle it?"
"No, but I've had a week you wouldn't believe, I'm alone for the night, and I need a drink. My mates will get me home."
Rosmerta's smile widened. "Be sure to come back and tell me all about it sometime."
Draco frowned. The women seemed to be having a conversation within a conversation. He pursed his lips and drummed his fingers on the table, earning a disapproving stare from his girlfriend. He smiled wickedly. She blushed and looked away.
Professor whatever-she-called-herself giggled, and she hadn't even had a drink yet! He was fortunate not to have her as a teacher. She was too undignified.
Draco's lips turned down when he realised how much skin his girl's sleeveless black top displayed. If he caught any other bloke admiring the scenery, they'd regret it.
The girls began to talk about clothing styles and fads while disco music played in the background. The three males glanced at each other and decided without words not to bother trying to talk about anything. They were off school grounds with gorgeous women. Conversation wouldn't improve the night. It was already brilliant.
"Here ya go, luvs."
'Anna' tossed a bag to the smiling pub owner with a wink. "Run a tab, Ros, and then keep the change."
A throaty chuckle from Rosmerta made every man in the room sit up a bit straighter.
He didn't approve of older women being sexy either, but his attention was diverted to his girlfriend 'Buffy's' butterbeer moustache. He leaned over and licked it off. She giggled, and his mood improved dramatically.
Draco avoided looking at the auburn-haired girl being fondled on her elf's lap and pouted until his girl got the hint and sat on his. The brown eyes looking at him showed the same happiness he felt at being able to be with her in public and not have to worry about who might see or who they would tell.
When she kissed him, Draco didn't mind being called 'Angel' anymore. He was in heaven.
"Col...oopsie...Heath, you're so funny! How come a cutie like you's not got a girlfriend?"
Salazar Slytherin, the professor was pissed! How could she get plastered on one lousy drink...with an umbrella in it for Merlin's sake? Draco didn't miss the way Heath's dark eyes flickered over at Frida and back again before shrugging.
Ginny asked the question he'd only thought and snuggled against him in a way that made Draco not even care why the professor had the alcohol tolerance of a two year old.
Anna leaned forward and giggled, before holding her finger up to her lips and saying, in a hushed tone ruined by intermittent giggling, "I always has to share m'fam'ly secret w' my friends. Wait. Firs' you all have to pinkie promise not to tell a livin' soul."
She held out her pinkie. One by one, they shook it. When she turned to him, Draco scowled at the inanity, but did it since she looked ready to cry otherwise. Ginny giggled in his ear. She was wiggling too, and that he liked.
"Here's m'deep, dark, secret." Melodic laughter pealed, ringing in male ears in a way that was quite...stimulating. Shifting in a way that made his girlfriend happy, Draco nuzzled a slender neck in a manner that was far from angelic, and listened as the girlish professor said, "My...sister Lorelei...an mos' the rest of our fam'ly...are sirens. The lure sailors from the sea kind, 'tho we haven't done tha' for ages." She said sadly, "There's never been a decent drinker in the lot." She sighed. "If'n those ancestors had a drunk some o' that rum that floated by now an' then, we might be able to hold our liquor today."
"Really?" said Creevey.
'Frida' smiled. "I love Siren Cosmetics"
The longhaired blond smiled wolfishly into his girlfriend's eyes. "I love Siren's Secrets...on you."
Grimacing as Legolas whispered his favourite coloured brassieres, Draco looked away, into a pretty, pouting face. He said, "Would you like to go to that shop? We could floo to London on Hogsmeade weekend." Her smile made him smile almost as much as the thought of watching her model sexy apparel.
The loony siren announced, "Okie, dokie, It's time for a song, Frida. I'd ask you too, Buffy...but...I've heard you sing...sorry..."
The blonde and auburn haired wenches snickered over his golden-brown haired girl's pretended outrage and made their way, with 'Legolas' over to the bar, where they talked to Rosmerta. The woman laughed her arse off and then proclaimed, after the patrons hushed, "Tonight, we have our first ever karaoke disco duo. A round of applause, please, for Anna and Frida, who will be singing what else...ABBA!"
Girly-Locks spun an orb expertly- all those parties working instead of dancing. A dark brow rose. Draco was surprised. They weren't singing 'Dancing Queen'. Instead, a peppy tune was projected and the two 'women', in classic ABBA pose--Anna facing front, Frida standing sideways facing her--sang, with alternating turns away and toward the audience, Waterloo.
The pair danced as if they'd practiced, and maybe in a way they had. If each had a disco loving mother, then the hip shaking, side or forward stepping motions were probably ones done so many times that no thought was necessary. 'Frida' even did the standing behind, pulling back the other woman's hair to sing over her shoulder thing, which made the older witches, and wizards clap appreciatively.
Creevey whistled when the song ended and the singers returned with a round of butterbeer. Draco sneered at the blighter practically drooling. The lights dimmed as sappy music from that awful Muggle band called the Bee Gees filled the air. Anna jumped up and pulled Heath over to the small space that had been cleared for a dance floor. Even more revolting than the sight of a professor dancing with a student was the disco ball that had been enchanted to float and scatter sparkles of light across the pub.
Draco saw his girlfriend's hopeful look and led her to the dance floor. She felt so good in his arms, swaying slowly. He closed his eyes and pretended he and Ginny appeared as their true selves instead of some daft couple named Angel and Buffy.
The moment the song ended, another Bee Gees tune filled the space around them. How Deep is your Love. The words were simplistic, almost Hufflepuff, but somehow they filled his mind…and touched his heart. Draco tightened his arms around the girl who made him not mind this Muggle tosh so much.
-
The group ended up leaving the pub at a dead run, because they'd forgotten about time and were about to give the locals a shock. They laughed as they hurried back to the castle. Sneaking around to a little-used side entrance, they waited for Filch and Mrs. Norris to pass by on their rounds before saying their goodbyes.
Creevey walked a strangely quiet 'Ronan' back to Gryffindor while Boot escorted Blaise 'the long way' back to Slytherin. The sight of their friends leaving them alone reminded Draco of another time. Stalking forward, he smiled wickedly at the beautiful girl he loved. "All alone, Red...what are you going to do now?"
She backed him against the wall and aggressively pulled his head down to hers. Ginny kissed him in a way that encouraged Draco to shift and slide until he was pressing her against the wall. His blood pounded in his ears so loudly, he barely heard the sound of footsteps approaching in enough time to pull Ginny behind the nearby statue of Simon the Salacious.
Draco had to cover Ginny's mouth to stifle her gasp when the couple spoke. "Prefect duty is so boring, Hermione. Why don't we go check the Room of Requirement...make sure no one's using it to make out."
Hermione's giggles caused Draco's jaw to drop. Granger...giggling? Inconceivable!
"Shall we do the Highland Games theme? I want to see you in a kilt again."
Draco's stomach began churning. Thankfully, the other couple drifted away, but not before Weasley joked that Granger just wanted to see his arse. Rather, Draco hoped the Weasel was joking.
Soft pink lips kissed his scrunched up eyes, the down-turned corners of his mouth, his cheeks, and finally, lingeringly, his lips. Returning the sweet pressure, Draco allowed Ginny's kiss to transform the horrid finish to their night into a happy ending.
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A/N: My, what this lot gets up to! It's not even the weekend yet! Eclectic song usage, with the Weird Sister and werewolf duet based on Amy Lee's vocals on Seether's Broken (how'd the band end up covering a wizarding tune? It's a mystery. :D) The ABBA scene was inspired by the film Muriel's Wedding, which I liked, but the vacation dance number when Muriel and her pal dress up in white as ABBA and win the lip-synch contest doing Waterloo was the best part by far! In 1997, Heath Ledger was in a series called Roar, and Angel and Buffy were heating up Sunnydale. Orlando Bloom was years away from donning his Legolas wig, but Tolkien fans imagined him long before Peter Jackson did! I hope readers enjoyed the fantasies, the Princess Bride and other references, and review to tell me so!