Chapter – 9

George was brooding. He was in the library and writing his potions essay. Why was he brooding? Maybe it had something to do with the fact that Alicia was sitting next to him and ignoring him. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that she was flirting outrageously with some Hufflepuff guy. Or maybe it was because it was dawning on him that he had made a huge mistake.

Stretching a little, he looked around and tried to see if he knew anyone else there. Sitting next to Alicia and the Hufflepuff (whose name was Joe) was not high on his list of things he wanted to do. Scanning the tables, he ticked off all the people he didn't know, the ones he didn't like, the ones who didn't like him and finally, his gaze landed on someone familiar. Picking up his essay and his bag, he walked over and sat down opposite Shiara.

Alicia didn't even notice he had left.

Shiara knew that George and Alicia were in the library. How could she not? Alicia was making enough noise to wake the dead, flirting with Joe (who was quite nice actually, just a little slow) and when she was sure that Shiara was looking, she'd lean over and squeeze George's arm or kiss him on the cheek. Shiara didn't know whether to feel sorry for him (it was obvious that Joe was the new prize) or want to give him a swift kick in the pants. She was just debating the merits of both these courses of action when George Weasley sat down opposite her at her table and calmly began writing his potions essay.

Shiara gaped at him for a couple of seconds before saying, as calmly as she could, "What are you doing here, George?"

George smiled at her and said "just needed a quiet place to work…I mean, if that's ok with you?"

Shiara found herself smiling back (against her will) and realized that she definitely was not immune to the Weasley charm. Determined to ignore him, she immersed herself in her essay. George leaned across the table and tapped her arm with him quill, she looked up into his deep blue eyes and found herself smiling goofily at him instead of asking him what he wanted.

George didn't seem to notice and just grabbed her potions essay and started comparing it to hers. Pulling herself together, she allowed him to draw her into a lively debate about the merits of dragon's blood over salamander blood which resulted in them both laughing till they cried.

Their peaceful time alone was interrupted by Alicia who finally realized that George had left her side. As she dragged George away, Shiara found herself smiling a little to herself.

Damn that stupid Weasley.

Shane was in a lot of trouble. And it wasn't his fault! Well, maybe a little. But what did they expect him to do when the loser who had broken his best friend's heart roam freely along the corridors of Hogwarts, tormenting other girls. Therefore, he was entirely justified when he had hexed Diggory and charmed his hair blue and bronze. Not to mention the nasty little jinx he had found which made Diggory keep forgetting which bathrooms were for boys and which ones were for girls. The sight of Diggory being chased out of Hufflepuff house by an incensed Hannah Abbot was well worth the detention he had landed with Professor Snape. Atleast this way he could keep an eye on Shiara and make sure nothing happened to her. And maybe he could find a way to get George Weasley as well. Now that was a challenge!

Smirking evilly, he shocked Snape by thanking him for his detention and prancing off to the Ravenclaw common room.

Snape sighed and poured himself a stiff brandy. Hedidnt think that he would ever be able tofigure out students.