Hey everybody! Sorry for the delay, but guess what! My swimming banquet is tonight & then season's over so I won't be as busy so this shouldn't take as long next time. Woohoo! At least until basketball season starts. Haha. So I decided to put it back in 1st person because people seemed to like it better. I'll fix the last chapter sometime soon hopefully. Well, enjoy! And remember to review, sil-vous plait...hehe.
I hummed to myself as I skipped down the stairs to the dungeons where Professor Snape held potions class. The words I'd made up myself. It was in response to whatever weird thing just happened during History of Magic. It somehow developed to the tune of Aloutte.
I don't like Fred Weasley, I don't like Fred Weasley, I don't li-ike Fre-e-ed Weasley!
It turned out pretty well, I thought. Fairly catchy. Not to mention it was the truth. Fred was my best friend. People don't fall for their best friends.
I don't like Fred Weasley, I don't like Fred Weas--
BAM. I'd just ran straight into someone. A very tall someone. Staggering back, I looked up, embarressed. And when I saw who it was I could feel my cheeks burning.
It was Cedric Diggory. I wanted to fall through the floor. Number ONE hottie at Hogwarts and I had to just run into him on the stairs humming like an idiot! I'd had a crush on him for as long as I could remember, but he never really addressed me as anything other than "Bell" and I was practically a boy to him on the pitch. And now, I'd graduated from "might-as-well-be-a-guy-Quidditch-player" to a clutz. Just fabulous.
"S-sorry, Cedric," I stammered, and moved to get around him.
"Hey, Katie, wait a second," he turned around to look at me. I stopped, in shock.
"Yeah?" I said, not believing my luck that he'd actually used my first name.
"I haven't seen you around in a while...how was your summer?" He smiled. His smile is gorgeous! I thought to myself.
"Oh, you know...the usual. And you?"
"Same. Well, listen, seeing as how I never really get the chance to see you outside of Quidditch,
how would you like to spend the day at Hogsmeade with me? We could get to know each other better."
Hmm, let me think about this...YES!
"That sounds great, Ced," I replied. "I have to get to class right now, but I'll see you then?"
"Great, how's seven?"
"Fabulous."
"And Katie?"
"Yeah?"
"You look great...very pretty."
"Thank you, Cedric. I'll see you later."
"See you."
Oh...my...gosh! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh! Cedric Diggory just asked me out! Ahhhhhhh!
I could barely contain my enthusiam. I took the rest of the stairs two at a time all the way down to Snape's classroom. I think I might have actually sang out loud. I squealed, at any rate. My encounter with Cedric made me late, but it was with no fear that I pushed open the door to potions and strolled over to my seat in which I sat next to Fred, who was my cauldrom partner, and Alicia and Lee who were also partners. I mush have been oblivious to the silence and the impending reprimand from Snape because when it came, it took me totally off guard.
"Miss Bell," he hissed sinisterly. "I do believe you're late to my class."
My initial response was to say 'Well, I do believe you're right,' but the little bit of self-restraint I possessed warned me that that might not be such a hot idea at the moment. Instead, I selected a more appropriate apology.
"I'm sorry, Professor. I guess I lost track of time."
"Then I guess you just lost another five points for Gryffindor, Bell, honestly you are the poorest excuse for an 'O' studens all your other teachers profess you to be that I have ever had the experience of teaching."
Again, I was tempted to perform another sardonic action: this time, shaking my head very sadly and agreeing with him. But I let my better judgement win out and took my seat, fixing him with my best submissive look. Normally, I hate letting Snape win but I'd already lost fifteen points for Gryffindor today and I decided that maybe keeping my head down would be the best course of action.
Appartently the greasy old slimeball thought so too, because after keeping his glare on me for another appropriate amount of five seconds, he began to address the whole class on what immensely boring potion we would be doing today.
I copied down instructions because Fred was too lazy. It didn't really matter anyway, no one could read his handwriting anyway. I don't think even he could. I like working around Fred because he makes me feel like a good student, because as sloppy of one as I am, he's even worse. Don't get me wrong, he isn't stupid or anything, just lazy. So, thankfully, Snape hasn't seperated us yet. He really doesn't have the option to; Fred and I are brilliant (though admittedly slightly unconventional) portionmakers together. Dumbledore himself complimented Snape on his teaching abilities after he'd sampled the dream elixir we'd made that made one dream they were riding a pink hippogriff through London. After that, I decided Snape keeps us together to make him look good. I'm guessing he wants a raise. That way, he might be able to afford some shampoo.
"Nice going there, wee one," said Fred, smiling at me. "Smashing entrance."
"Thanks, mate," I replied absently, copying down the brewing time. I still had Cedric on the brain, and kept grinning to myself at regular intervals.
Fred noticed and looked at me in a playfully scrutinizing way. "Okay, Katie...what's going on here?"
"I don't know what you're talking about Fred," I tried to say, but ended up giggling through. It wasn't my fault Cedric's eyes had to be amazing! I couldn't help it. I giggled some more.
"What!" Fred cried, laughing at me. "I didn't even tell a joke, Kates. There's no point to laughing without me causing it."
"Fred, you're so clueless," I sighed happily. He was back to being the best friend again. A stupid one, but best friend none the less. I wasn't sure what I'd been thinking before...obviously I hadn't been! Cedric, Cedric, Cedric! Woohoo!
"What?" he said. He paused to think for a moment, and then a knowing look spread across his face.
"Ohhh," he said, grinning and nodding. "I get it. This is about some bloke, isn't it?
I controlled myself enough to nod.
"I know him?" he asked.
I nodded again.
"George?"
"Nope."
"Lee?"
"No."
"Hmm...Oliver?"
I laughed. "No, Fred!"
"Then who?"
What the heck.
"Cedric Diggory!" I replied happily, dumping about two pints more porcupine quills in my potion then I meant to. Fred fished them with a ladle.
"Oh..."he said, quietly. "I see."
If I'd have been more in touch with things than I was, I might have noticed the disappointed and sad look that had quickly spread over my friend's freckled face, or the disbondency in his answer. But I wasn't. And I didn't. I chattered away happily about Cedric asking me out to Hogsmeade while I messed up potion directions in my ecstasy and Fred fixed them, hiding his disappointment with a false cheeriness.
Halfway through the period, I'd reached the point in my emotional cycle where I was on top of the world, and all better judgement was usually dormant. Alicia used to always warn me about being "reckless" while I was in this mood, but I knew Fred usually enjoyed it. We laughed, and I did stupid things.
I grabbe a bottle of essence of snail. Laughingly, I suggested we dump it in and see what happened.
Fred grinned and shrugged his shoulders. "I dunno, Kates," he said. "That doesn't seem like such a good idea to me."
"Oh, come on," I begged. "Don't be boring."
"Seriously, I don't think we should, Katie," he said.
I thought about it. "Oh maybe you're right," I gave in, setting the open bottle back on the counter. But I didn't pay attention to the fact that it was on the edge, and when I turned around, I knocked the entire bottle into our cauldron.
We stared at it, shocked and silent. Nothing happened for a few seconds and then--
BOOM! The potion exploded the cauldron, drenching Warrington and Flint, who both started to break out in hives.
It was deathly quiet. Everyone stared from me to Snape, and then back again.
"Who is reponsible for this?" he asked quietly, rising from his desk. "WHICH ONE OF YOU DUNDERHEADS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS?"
The class looked at me. "I--I am sir," I stammered. "It was an acci--"
"An accident, Bell?" he roared. "You are an accident! Everything you touch becomes an accident! You are, by far, the worst student ever to enter this school! You have no ethics, no restraint, no respect--you are a disaster!"
Snape stood, chest heaving, looking so hatefully at me, I thought he would attack me any second. Shaking, I picked up my things. I stood there for a while in the silent room, with everyone looking at me, wanting to see what I would do. And then I burst into tears and ran out the door
I ran blindly through the halls, y only though to get into the common room so no one could see me crying, Snape's cruel words ringing through my head, cutting into my core with each accusation, causing tears to sting my eyes and cheeks. It hurt because it was true, I knew it was. It was all true...
I yelled the password at the Fat Lady, who looked so surprised to see me in the condition I was, let me in without a word about students not being allowed in dorms during school hours.
I limply collapsed onto the first couch, and the tears started all over again. I hated myself. Why couldn't I be more like Angelina, the model student? Or Alicia, who never talked in class? Why was I stuck being Katie Bell, the girl who couldn't keep her big fat mouth shut? Or her emotions in check? I was always late, always missing work, talking or laughing when it wasn't cool. My tongue took on a mind of its own and I couldn't even try to control it. I was a failure. I always had to draw attention to myself by saying or doing something completely stupid. Snape was right, I was a disaster. Why couldn't I be just lik everybody else?
I wept bitterly into the pillow until all my strength was gone, and then I felt someone take me up in their arms. I looked up. It was Fred Weasley.
Fred gently pulled me close to him and held me in his arms. I cried a bit more as he silently stroked my hair and waited for me to talk.
When I was done, I layed my head against his chest. "I hate myself right now," I said, finally.
"I know," he replied quietly.
"I wish I could be somebody different."
"I know."
"I hate how I'm so loud and obnoxious."
"I know."
"I think...I think Snape was right about me."
"Okay," Fred said. "Are you finished now?"
I considered this for a moment. "Yes," I said, finally.
"Then can I tell you what I think?"
"Alright."
He took my shoulders and turned me around to face him. I looked down, but he held my chin up and looked me in the eyes.
"I think that you're amazing, Katie Bell. I think that you have something in you that's priceless. I love the way you say every little thing that pops into your head, and how you're so clumbsy, and how you crinkle your nose when you're thinking about something. I love that because it makes you different. You shine to me, Katie. I'm proud to know you. I'm proud to be able to look across the breakfast table every morning and see the prettiest, cleverest, and most alive girl I've ever layed eyes on, and be able to say that she's my best friend. But most importantly, I think Snape's wrong. I think he's dead wrong. Don't you believe that you're inferior, Katie Bell, don't you believe it for one second. You're not. You're perfect being you. We love you for being you. You stand out Kates, you were born to. Don't ever try to hide that light that I love so much. Just keep on being you."
Tears started at the corners of my eyes, but this time for different reasons. Fred pulled me into his arms and wrapped me up in them. His embrace was warm, full of love and friendship. I felt safe.
"Thank you," I murmured. "Thank you for being there."
Later, I found out that Fred had gone into a rage at Snape after I left, and stormed out of the room after me. I was incredibly grateful to him. That night, when I was going to bed, Angelina wordlessly handed me my list, on which she had scratched out the requirement of being 6'2" and written: "Knows how to comfort me when I'm lost". And even though I knew she'd crossed out 6'2" because Fred would never achieve that height, I didn't even complain as I crossed it out.
