Disclaimer: I do not own anything Harry Potter...I'm not J.K. Rowling.
Kinda wish I was though...
Real Love
Chapter Four: Quarrels and Quidditch
Angelina sped down the corridor that led to the library, gracefully dodging her fellow students when she passed. As she did, she thought about the recent and peculiar events.
Katie and Ali had been talking about her all day, she knew it. In class, they kept passing notes and throwing her the most annoying glancesKatie looked anxious and Alicia, disturbingly giddy. She didn't like it. There were keeping something from her...or worse, scheming. Alicia was full of them and Angelina would be damned if it wasn't about her and Fred. Really, Alicia Spinnet just cared a bit too much.
And then there was George; he shot her looks all through Charms while Fred was trying to hold a conversation with him. Every time she met his dreamy eyes, her face would ignite and her heart would tear. Every time, she'd be afraid. What if Fred caught her watching his brother? What would he say and/or do? Nothing, she thought each time as she turned back to her work. Not a bloody thing. Because he doesn't care, like Alicia said. Maybe for him, it wasn't love. Maybe it was...fun.
But George...something about him made her clear and fresh. Like crying. Talking to him, being near him, just thinking about him was like releasing a big breath of stale air. It felt good. Right. This, she mused as she turned a corner. This was love. The real kind.
Pain and tiny stars that flashed in front of her eyes broke her chain of thought. She had fallen to the floor and her books were all askew. Groaning her dismay, she looked around until she saw another set of fallen books, those that looked more worn and frail than hers. She raised her gaze a little and saw George scurrying about to pick up her books.
"George!" Angelina cried, shocked to see him after thinking about him for so long. "Bloody hell, I'm sorry. Here, let me help..."
In a pained silence, they picked up the other's books. Angelina's overworked mind raced as she tried to concentrate on not being so obvious. The quiet stung, she was not accustomed to it in the presence of a Weasley and she wondered what George was thinking. She suddenly hoped it was about her. Immediately, she chastised herself for that. She was forgetting Fred again.
George had been quicker and finished long before she had, but he'd waited until she was done to stand up with her. When she looked at him, he flushed pink and averted his gaze. She then looked down, a bit discouraged.
"Are you okay, Angelina?" His voice sounded so faraway.
"Mmhmm," she replied. And hers was lonely.
"I'm glad. Fred would kill me if he knew I'd hurt you."
Her first reaction was to say, 'Would he really, George? Does he still care?' Her second was, 'Ohh. Is that only what you care about, Weasley?' But instead, Angelina smiled politely as they exchanged books. "Thanks." Then in an attempt to be in his company a little longer, "Where were you going in such a hurry?"
"To the common room to meet with Lee and Fr" George trailed off and looked awkward. "What about you?" he asked quickly.
"Oh, I was going to the library to get a book for Trelawny's class. And after that, down to the Quid" She stopped and looked as uncomfortable as George.
"Angelina!" cried Katie and Alicia, coming from behind George just as Fred came running from behind Angelina, shouting, "Oy, George!"
"Come on, Ange, we should be already down at the pitch," Alicia announced, pulling Angelina a little.
"Hurry up, George. We need to get testers before Hermione gets there" Fred stopped talking when he saw Angelina.
Angelina met his gaze and stood her ground. Katie and Alicia released her, both looking very agitated.
"Angelina," Alicia complained, but Katie stomped on her foot and stared pointedly at Fred and Angelina. Alicia looked at the pair and frowned.
They were just staring at each other, and looked quite foolishly doing so.
"Hey, Angie," Fred greeted her at last. "How've you been?"
"Fine, thanks," Angelina answered plainly. Her brow furrowed. She didn't know why her voice shook.
"Lovely weather we're having, isn't it?" he then asked with a nervous laugh. "The sun, the clouds...all pleasant, don't you think?"
Angelina stared at him. Why in the world would he be talking about the weather...with her? She released a shattering breath and shook her head slightly.
"Look, Fred, I've got to go...See you around," she told them as she let Alicia and Katie pull her away.
Fred gazed after her, stricken. "What's up with her?" he asked his twin as they turned and headed for Gryffindor Tower.
George gave a sideways glance at Fred. "I think she may be worried, Fred."
"'Bout what?"
"'Bout everything, really. Quidditch, you, everything. Except maybe the weather."
Suddenly, Fred couldn't bring himself to look George.
"How d'you know all this?"
George was hesitant at first, to tell him the truth. He wondered how Fred would react, what he'd say to Angel, and what he'd do to him. If he knew. George sighed. No, he didn't have to know.
"Katie told me," he lied.
Fred released a wobbly laugh. "And why didn't she tell me? Why didn't Angie say anything?"
"I don't know, Fred"
"Since you know everything..."
"I DON'T KNOW!" George cried. "She wouldn't tell me."
Fred looked at his brother, a little surprised, then looked away and fell silent. George, realizing his fatal mistake, swore to himself.
>>
"Angelina, what's up with you?" Alicia asked, irritated.
"Nothing's up with me, Ali," Angelina replied briskly.
"Then why did you freeze up in front of Fred?" Alicia hissed furiously. "You should have screamed at him, nagged, something. Honestly, you complain to me and Katie about everything but you chicken out when you come face to face with the problem..."
Angelina rolled her eyes as she tied her Quidditch robes on. "I didn't freeze, Ali. It was more like...kinda like time had stopped for us. For a moment, it felt like I couldn't breath, I'd even stopped thinking." A slow smile had spread onto Angelina's face. "I hadn't realized I missed him so much."
"Angelina"
"Hmm?" She looked up at Alicia.
"You're drooling." Angelina frowned at her smile vanished.
"C'mon," Alicia held out her hand. "We've got practice, Captain."
Angelina grimaced. "Right." She accepted her friend's hand and Alicia pulled her to her feet. They grabbed their broomsticks and headed out the locker room door.
"So Katie's already out there, huh?" Angelina asked.
"Yep. Her and Ginny are trying to keep Kirke and Sloper from fighting, remember?"
"Oh, right..."
They stepped onto the Quidditch pitch and the bitter air hit their faces instantly. So much for 'lovely weather', Angelina thought grimly.
"A bit chilly, isn't?" Alicia asked, frowning.
"A bit," Angelina answered stiffly. She looked up and saw one broomstick by the far goalpost and four in the center of the pitch. Two of which were going at it, and two smaller forms were circling the fighting pair, yelling.
"Damn it," Angelina muttered. "Not again. Alright, then," she shouted and the movement in the air ceased. "Front and center, Gryffindors!" They remained n the air, looking down at her. Alicia giggled. Angelina cut her a hard glance then looked up at her team.
"It means get your arses down here, now!"
Immediately, they obeyed, landing in the middle of the field. Angelina exhaled, already frustrated, and made her way toward them with Alicia at her heals. When she approached them, she stared at them closely. They were standing in single file, their broomsticks erect by their sides.
Angelina began to walk up and down the line, looking each in the eyes, but none would return her attention. She stopped when she reached Kirke and Sloper. They both were sporting colorful bruises and bloody noses.
"Do either of you know what the job of a Beater is?" she asked quietly.
"A Beater's job is to make sure that the bludgers"
"Do not harm any of his teammates, but instead his opponents," Sloper finished quickly in an attempt not to be outdone by Kirke.
Angelina smiled gently. "That is correct, Kirke and Sloper. Well done. But," she said icily and the two Beaters' smug smiles dropped. "That does NOT mean that you have to beat the living hell out of one another! Where's the sense in that, I ask you."
"He started it," Kirke said sulking.
"Yeah well, that was after you called me a Dungbomb eater," Sloper shot back.
"Well, you are"
"Enough!" Angelina screamed and Kirke and Sloper hung their heads, ashamed. "We do not need Umbridge to an another set of Beaters, especially for a fight between themselves. Do you understand me?"
They both nodded mutely. "Good," she whispered. "Now, I want us to go up there and have a good practice so we can win good matches. Everyone got that?" They nodded and mounted their brooms.
"And Ron." The pale, redheaded boy looked at her, trembling from the cold or her shrewd tone. Maybe both.
"Keep your eye on the ball, ok?"
Ron nodded and became even paler.
"Alright, then," Angelina straddled her broom. "Let's do this, people..."
>>
Angelina entered the common room with tears speeding down both cheeks and with Alicia and Katie at her sides. They led her to an armchair by the fire and then knelt at either arms of the chair.
"C'mon, Angel," Katie said softly, "it wasn't that bad."
"Yeah," Alicia added. "Kirke didn't mean to hit that bludger at Ginny and break her nose."
Angelina sniffed. Katie gave Alicia a warning glance, then looked at Angelina once more.
"You should at least eat something, Angelina."
Angelina shook her head. "No, I'm not hungry. Honest. You guys go...I can hear Ali's stomach growling."
Katie released a giggle and looked at Alicia who was staring daggers at her.
"Um, yeah, let's go, Ali," Katie said somberly. Alicia silently agreed and they left Angelina to her weary woes.
Feeling helpless, she rose from the chair and turned to go take a shower in the girls dormitory. She had only taken a couple of steps when she spotted George handing out Fever Fudged to five Second year girls. He caught her gaze and waved frantically at her, smiling wide. She raised a hand and waved back, but didn't return the smile. His silly grin disappeared from his face and he said something to the girls before hurrying over to her.
Angelina's heart shuddered weakly as he watched him approach her. She wiped away a few of her tears, anticipating what he would say to her.
"What's wrong, Angel?" George asked, his blues eyes staring deep into her dark brown ones. She suddenly felt opened and looked away from him.
"Er, nothing. I'm fine, George, really."
"So you cry whenever you're fine?"
Angelina didn't bother to answer.
"Is it about Quidditch practice?" he pressed. She nodded. It's funny...how he seemed to know.
"I see.." He walked over a sofa and sat down a the far end. "It seems as though another patient has walked into Dr. Georgie's midst," George spoke thoughtfully.
"Doctor?" Angelina raised an eyebrow.
"Of course, Miss Johnson. I am the Gryffindor psychiatrist."
Angelina exploded in abrupt laughter. "No, George...you can't be...be serious."
"Oh, but, Miss Johnson, I am," he replied earnestly. "Now will you kindly come to your appointment?"
Still laughing, Angelina obliged. She rested her head on his lap and the rest of her body was lying on the couch.
"Now," George began briskly. "What happened at practice?"
"Well, Kirke and Sloper got in a fight."
"Really? How intriguing..."
Angelina snorted.
"Now really, Miss Johnson! I must inform you that your behavior will not be tolerated," George bristled in mock indignation.
"I'm sorry, George, but the way you said it...How intriguing..."
George smiled. "Please continue your story, Miss Johnson."
Calm now, Angelina went on. "They just keep fighting, Dr. Georgie, like...like trolls. It's so irritating and it makes absolutely no sense."
"Are they good Beaters?"
"No!"
"Fred and I were better, eh?"
"Yes, Dr. Georgie, you were."
"I see...Please go on."
"And then Sloper aimed a bludger at your sister and broker her nose."
"What?" Dr. Georgie exclaimed, losing all dignity in his voice.
"Or was it Kirke? Well anyway, she pulled out her wand and placed a Bat Boogey Curse on him. It was so disgusting..."
George was laughing now.
"Really, George, the whole thing was a mess!"
"I'm real sorry, Angel, but" He couldn't finish due to his continuous laughter.
"I really wish you, Fred, and Harry hadn't been banned," she stated quietly. George's laughter died down when she said this and he looked at her.
"Really?" he asked softly.
"Yes, you stupid prat. I mean it."
George stared at her for a moment, then looked away, his deep eyes distant. She frowned.
"What is it?"
"Nothing."
"Oh, come on! I tell you everything."
"Well, fine," he lowered his eyes and gazed at her, "if you must know, I'm in bit of a predicament."
"I'm waiting, Georgie."
"Well, move! How do you except a patient to get help like this?"
Angelina chuckled and then switch positions with Angelina sitting upright and his head in her lap.
"All right, then. Tell me your dilemma and I will try my best to help," she said, unconsciously twisting her fingers into his thick, soft hair.
George closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of her messing up his hair. "Well, there's this girl that I've know since Merlin knows how long"
"Mmm hmm," she murmured dreamily, her hands still in his hair. She used to do this to Fred so often and she'd forgotten what it felt like. Wonderful.
"And I've been in love with her for just as long it seems. She's just always kinda been there, either with me or in thoughts and dreams. I wanted to ask her out so many timesthe Yule Ball included."
"Right." Angelina was wondering who this girl was, her heart hardening to his words. Oh Merlin...she was...jealous.
"But I always felt as if she was in love with someone else so I never told her anything. And now it's getting to me because we're kinda...connecting." George suddenly smiled. "That's feels nice, Angel."
Angelina paused and took her hand away. He opened his eyes and looked up into her face. "Any advice."
"You should tell her, obviously. I mean, you never know if she feels the exact same, right?" What was she saying? No, George. Don't say anything to her.
"But I can't, Angel. She couldn't feel the same and even if she did, why would she leave her 'perfect' boyfriend for me?"
"Why wouldn't she?"
"I'm hopeless, Angelina. Just forget me. I'm dying," George claimed dramatically, covering his face with his arm. Angelina uncovered it and stared down skeptically at him.
"Seriously, George. Are you going to spend your whole life, this way. Wondering, questioning. What if I told her...what if she felt the same...what if I never get the chance again? George, you can't do this to yourself."
George sighed and looked off somewhere. "So I should tell her."
"Yes, you should," Angelina replied patiently, sadly.
"Fine." He met her eyes, determined and serious.
Ohh Merlin...
"Angelina" he started.
Her heart was beating to wildly to let him go on. "Umm, George?"
And then, Fred and Lee entered the common room, with bags of joke shop goods. They immediate went to the second year testers.
George quickly sat up from Angelina's lap and stood up. Angelina rose as well.
"Ierbetter go help before Fred"
"Right. And I better go as well." Angelina met his eyes and quickly looked down. "Well, goodbye."
And before George could even say his farewell, Angelina rushed away to the girl's dormitory without looking back.
>>
Yes...I realize that was a little long, the longest chapter yet. Forgive me. I made it even longer by adding in more details. Thanks to all the reviews. They keep me going and I love you all!
angelface04: Merci! I'm touched...I'm glad you think so. Yeah, after I posted the thing about the Fred and George keeping diaries, I realized it wasn't so impossible and that it could just happen. Ack, I'm hopeless. But yes, you do have to show me those storiesI'm curious!
Evilevergreen: Haha...voila! How was it? I made it longer this time :) Thanks. I wanted to do it that way just for that purpose. Because it does get kinda boring seeing the WHOLE story from one character's P.O.V. And it wouldn't really be a story without Fred and George's say in it all :p
Caderyn: Yes, thank you :p It was kinda hard to write the diary chapter at first, but I'm glad it seemed to work. Lol, I could see them all on the Jerry Springer show too. Weird o.0 Wow, now I hope I can finish this story sanely as well...
Ashleigh: Thanks and thanks again :D Yes, you inspired me. I love all your stories. Yes, everybody's thoughts and feelings are revealed...I take no prisoners I wanted the story to be told from the whole picture, so everyone knows what's kind of goin on. It's one of the first stories I'v written that way, come to think of it...
Samantha Sylim: Ahh, first time reader Thank you! I'm so glad that you liked it and reviewed. Yess! I somehow captured the twin's beautiful personalities! I thought I'd been slipping up with George and my humor was opposite theirs, but you contradicted me. I'm pleased you liked them :)
LittleWriterGirl: Thaanks...I was a big F/A shipper too, but then I got curious and started to look for G/A and didn't find many. I'm glad you did read this instead of passing it up, glad you liked it. You kinda made me feel bad about my pairings...I've messed everything all up! Ah well, thanks for the review. I really, I really appreciated it :)
starXcrossed: Lol. Thank you. I almost missed your review, because I was about to update. It's okay, I just glad you reviewed this time and thanks for being honest It's full of suspense? Wow. I hadn't meant to make it like that, but I like the way it sounds. Sorry for any trouble I caused :(
Will you be reviewing now?