Author's Note: No, I haven't dropped off the face of the earth, and no I haven't forgotten about all of you. I love you all. I'm really sorry that this chapter if crappy and short, but hopefully you'll enjoy it. I've been grounded into the next millenium, so you'll just have to get used to these unbearable periods of waiting.

Disclaimer: Tis all JKR's, with the obvious exception of my original characters.

You're So Tactless

Chapter 11: Timothy's Wand

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Later, as I went up to bed early, I caught Angelina's quick movement out of the corner of my eye. The minute my back had turned, she had bolted for the opposite side of the room, where the Twins and Alicia sat bent over a game of chess. Oliver, I thought with a strangely fuzzy feeling in my stomach, was craning his neck and poking around his little model of a Quidditch stadium, muttering to himself.

I went upstairs, not thinking anything of it really. I had a pounding headache, and I wanted some good quality time with my pillow, face-to-face. I changed into my pajamas, and brushed my teeth, and then thought I'd better go say goodnight to everyone.

I crept halfway down the stairs when a conversation stopped me.

" Really, all I gathered from her was that she thinks her family hates her because her sister had sex underage. Then her dad leaves. Big deal. It seems like she's over reacting to me," Lee said dismissively.

I frowned. Thanks, Lee, you're a real friend.

I heard Angelina sigh. " That's not all."

Yes it is, I thought stubbornly.

" If she remembered, she'd have told you." Alicia responded.

This had me livid. What did she mean, 'if I remembered'?

" You mean there's something more?" Lee and George chorused.

" How could she have forgotten?" Fred asked dubiously.

" She had a minor concussion after being dropped by her mother, and then a major one after falling off her broom when she flew too high on a stormy day just a week after," Angelina said, " She's got dents in her head, because of an abysmal mediwizard."

My eyes widened as my hand slowly reached for my head. I felt around until I got to a place just southwest of my right ear. It was true. I did have dents. But I don't remember a thing!

" So? Why would that have anything to do with it?" Lee persisted.

" Because," Alicia snapped, with the air of someone who tires of stating the obvious, " there were things that happened between Maura's banishment and her father's departure that were really horrible."

" Like?" Lee prompted.

" Like her father getting drunk off his ass every night, coming home and beating both her and her mum. Mostly her mum. Then finally, he shoved her mum into a glass display case for the centuries old china that had been handed down her mum's line for a long time. My mum told me there was a curse on it. Something about being scarred forever if you broke it." Alicia said, taking a huge breath, " Mrs. Bell never quite forgave him. I mean, the curse is pretty common. It's on most display cases, especially in schools and in the case of, you know, like family heirlooms. And it repairs itself too. Anyway, my mum says that Mrs. Bell has scars all over her back,"

Fred let out a low whistle. " I'd almost forgotten about Mr. Bell beating them."

" Me too," George agreed, wide-eyed.

Lee heaved a sigh, and then inhaled deeply. " Oh Katie, what're we to do with her? She doesn't know anything. And her family is back in town…"

" What are you talking about?" Oliver said mildly, walking over to the group from the table he formerly occupied.

Angelina froze. " Nothing."

Alicia ran up to Oliver and yanked on his arm, shoving him towards the boys' staircase.

" Get some sleep Captain, you'll need it for practice tomorrow." she said hastily.

Oliver was going to protest when he just shrugged, and trudged up the stairs. When he was out of sight, I turned my focus back to my friends.

"So who's going to tell her? I think it's time she knew." Fred stated matter-of-factly.

" Not me," Angelina piped up.

" Or me," Alicia agreed and Lee looked straight at George.

" I think George should tell her."

George paled. " Alright, I'll tell her." he said resignedly.

I hurtled quietly back up the stairs as they dispersed. I lunged at my bed and cried myself to sleep. I realized now, that I in fact COULD wait, for my father's arrival.

.

It was hard to say who was more uncomfortable. George, or the couch he was sitting on.

He'd caught me alone in the Gryffindor Tower that weekend, after a heinously painful practice. The team was currently in the library, and most of the other Gryffindors were at lunch.

" So, Katie, nice robes."

" They're my standard school robes, George."

" Right. Well…nice….wand…"

" I wish I could say the same for you."

" Come to my room tonight, and I'll let it work it's magic on you. See if that changes your mind.

" You're so gross George."

" What? I'm sure my wand would rise to the occasion."

My eyes bugged out. " GEORGE!"

He winced, and peeked out at me from one eye. " Sorry. I couldn't help it. You walked right into that."

I sighed. " What did you want?"

I already knew the answer.

" To talk."

" So talk."

" I am talking."

" George."

" Katie."

"Timothy."

" Elisabeth."

" Weasley."

"Bell."

" Stop it."

" Make me."

" I will."

" Prove it."

" Ever heard of PMS?"

" Ever heard of TMI?" George grimaced.

I smirked, knowing I had won. But George's dancing eyes and bright smiles perturbed me. The smirk washed right off my face, and I stared darkly at the floor.

" I know what you want to tell me."

" Oh, were we that loud?"

" I was on the staircase."

" Oh."

Then something flickered on George's face.

" What?" I asked, not liking that look.

" Well if you were that far away on the staircase and you heard, then Oliver must've.." George trailed off, not meeting my eye.

I pounced on George and grabbed him by his shirt front. " DOES OLIVER KNOW?" I shrieked.

" I..I don't k-know," George stammered due to my incessantly violent shakes.

Lost in thought, I dashed from the portrait hold and barreled to the library, tripping every so often and having the strong desire to kick the suit of armor that laughed at me.

I couldn't let Oliver find out. What would he think? That I'm some pathetic victim of society? That I'm just being friends with him so one day I can claim revenge by making him my agony arm? That I'm to be pitied and nothing else?

I didn't want to lose his good opinion, and I found as I neared the door to the library, I was slowing down, and I eventually stopped. My heart was racing and I was feeling sick and neurotic.

How much did he hear?

End Chapter