Author's Note: I'll be able to update regularly after all! I conned my mom into ungrounding me, and I feel great. Thanks for all your reviews, I'm glad you love my story. This chapter will probably have you wanting to strangle me. And ferret? Good luck with the nickname....

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Blah, it's in the previous chapter.

You're So Tactless

Chapter 5: Penelope's Gift of Creating Rifts

Vulnerable, hopeless, despondent, bleak...it was tear-jerking. Instantly, my heart went out to him, the boy looking so lost. It was devastating really, because I had never ever seen him like this since- since Percy and Penelope-

"This isn't the place." I whispered, grabbing his hand and leading him out of the portrait hole.

Where to go? The library was going to be crowded with procrastinators, and the grounds would be too conspicuous if someone were to interrupt us. So, I just wander around a bit, finally settling for an empty landing in the Southwest Tower.

"Katie, are you sure you're okay with this?" Oliver said suddenly.

"You're the one who wanted to talk." I pointed out.

We fell silent, because I wasn't going to push him, for he might say something really weird. I had minimal experience with this sort of thing, and especially with him. ( I know I know, but I had really only just gotten to know him last year. ) When people wanted advice, or a good listener they went to Alicia. That was her department. If someone wanted a reality slap ( which didn't happen very often ) they went to Angelina. That was most definitely her department.

Hell, what's my department?

I looked at Oliver, opening and closing his mouth, trying to spit out the words.

Oh yeah,

" It's about P-p-," he mumbled.

"Penelope?" I finished briskly.

"Yeah, her." he said, not looking up at me.

"What about her?" I gently prompted.

"I still like her." he confessed, blushing something terrible.

"So what's the deal?" I asked, putting a comforting hand on his arm.

"What do you mean?"

"I know you like her. I know you've liked her for a really long time, so what's the deal?" I repeated.

"All during summer the only thing I could think about was her." Oliver said, "It was driving me crazy."

He stopped and swallowed. He ran his fingers through his hair repeatedly, breathing in erratic breaths.

"Oliver, I'm sorry but you've just got to get over her." I said quietly.

" Get over her? Get over her?" he shouted incredulously, "That's like asking me to give up Quidditch until the day I die!"

"There's nothing left! Your relationship with Percy-"

"Don't talk to me about him!" he interrupted hotly.

"My point is," I shot back, raising my voice to shut him up, "she's not the one for you. She's in love with Percy. Get. Over. It."

"Forget it Bell, I thought you understood me. I never suspected you'd be like this. Guess you fooled me." he gritted, storming away, leaving me alone on the landing, hurt and angry.

I stalked back up to my dorm ten minutes later, and threw myself on my bed.

I will not cry, I will not cry, I will not cry....

Unfortunately my eyes betrayed my mind, and they let out streams of hot tears, my body convulsing with the heavy sobs that escaped me. My relationship with Oliver had just gone down the drain, and I felt horrible. How could I possibly screw up a friendship before it barely even started? No less on the first day of school! Augh, this misery was my entire fault. I should have lied to him and told him that he had a chance. I should have made up some vague reply reminiscent of something a telephone psychic would say, therefore not letting him down either way.

"Why am I so atrocious?" I wailed, beating at my pillows viciously.

I ruin everything. I ruined my sister's life here in England, so she moved to France, and attended Beauxbatons. I had caught her shagging her boyfriend last year, and I remember her yelling at me for telling mom. The year before that I ruined my parents marriage, and they got divorced. Mom got custody of my sister and I, and dad left for America.

So yes, my latest accomplishment is my ruined friendship.

Go Katie; you're a cracking good comrade. Dependable, honest, and never at a loss for words. You always know just what to say. I thought bitterly, more tears spilling down my face.

"Katie!" Alicia cried, bursting into the dorm.

I swiped my eyes and pivoted so tat I sat on my left side, with my torso facing the right, where Alicia was.

"Alicia?" I asked tearfully.

"Katie babe, what's the matter?" Angelina said, rushing over to me with Alicia in tow.

They sat down on either side of me, and engulfed me in a hug, which only made me cry more. I felt as if I didn't deserve them after all the dreadful things I'd done. I'd probably just ruin this friendship too.

"Well," I began, and recounted the whole loathsome story to them, choking on my sobs.

"Oh crap." Alicia said, "You've got it bad!"

"Got what bad?" I inquired.

"You've been bitten by the nasty bug some people call love." she responded cryptically.

"Wh-what?"

"What Alicia is insinuating, is that you're in denial about loving Oliver." Angelina said impatiently, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"I am not!" I snapped, shaking my head vehemently.

"The more you get angry, the more you prove us right." Alicia pointed out.

"And what sort of bullshit philosophy is that?" I spat, wriggling away from them.

"It's one that's not actually bullshit." Angelina replied.

"Pull the other one." I scoffed.

Angelina opened and closed her mouth as if she had something to say, which, considering Angelina was undoubtedly true. However she decided against it and just patted my arm sympathetically.

"It's not your fault, Oliver just overreacted." she said, and got up, walking out of the dorm.

Alicia and I sat in silence, and I fiddling with the ends of my pillowcase, which I had placed in my lap to squeeze to death. ( Because Oliver was not available at the moment. )

"Fred and George wanted to come up, but you know.," she said softly, grinning.

An image of the twins running up the stairs that led to this dorm and the others part of the way, and then falling awkwardly into a heap ( probably on top of Lee, who was smart enough not to go up, but dumb enough to wait at the foot of the stairs. ) had me laughing along with Alicia.

"C'mon, let's go get lunch." I said, getting up and striding out of the dorm, feeling slightly better.

"Bloody stairs." George muttered when I met up with him in the common Room.

"The boys stairs don't do that to girls!" Lee protested.

" That's because the Founders felt that boys were less trustworthy than girls." Hermione commented airily from behind her copy of Hogwarts, A History.

"Oh yeah? Where'd you find that out?" Fred snapped.

"I just read it.," she returned evenly, slamming her book shut, and walking away, out the portrait hole.

Seconds later, she reappeared, and I jumped back a little ways in shock.

That's strange; she's got her bag on. I thought, giving her a small smile that she returned wearily as I passed her to exit the Common Room with my friends.

We ran at top speed to the Great Hall for lunch, wondering eagerly about the foods that were waiting for us. I had apologized to Angelina for my behavior on the way down and she waved it off, saying no apology was necessary. I laughed and joked with everyone, feeling happier than I had before. I sat down next to what I thought was Percy, and talked animatedly with Lee.

"Yeah, Oliver's an ass sometimes." I agreed with him, after recounting my tale to him and the Twins.

The book, which the boy had been hiding behind, was titled Quidditch Through the Ages, and was something that Percy wouldn't dare pick up. Oliver's angry face emerged, and I shrank back in shame and humiliation at having insulted him.

"I wouldn't act so holier-than-thou if I were you," he snarled, glowering at me before leaving the Great Hall.

I slammed my head on my empty plate repeatedly, hoping violently that the day wouldn't get any worse.

End Chapter

P.S. I'm sorry this was short, but I thought it was a good place to end it.