Disclaimer: Everything Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling
Woohoo, it's snowing! Just thought I'd share that before I put in the next chapter. Enjoy!
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"Never forget what people say when they're mad,
Because that's when the truth comes out."
-Anonymous 3
I rebounded from Snape's attack fairly quickly, mostly thanks to the constant care and watchfulness form Fred. As for potions class, I'd turned into some kind of hero for the majority of them. ("Heard you nailed two Slytherins!" exclaimed Roger Davies, clapping me on the back. "Good job!") And so the next day passed by simply and smoothly. I was now sitting in the library with Angelina and Alicia who were studying, waiting for dinner time to arrive, and amusing myself by flicking spit wads in Madame Pince's direction and watching her whirl around to yell at a bunch of second years.
"You're going to fail the Defense Against the Dark Arts test, Katie!" said Alicia, reprovingly, examining my closed book.
"No I won't," I assured her confidently, aiming another wet one at Madame Pince. "Lupin says I'm smarter than three-quarters of the class without trying. I'll be fine."
"Yes, and then he said he wanted to see what you could really do if you actually tried to put in an effort," she said.
"You take things to seriously, Al," I replied. "He didn't mean for me to actually study, he just said he wanted me to. Just like I want a Firebolt. I won't actually get one, but I'd still like it."
Alicia sighed, exasperated
"Okay, okay, Al, I know I'm being difficult and I'm sorry. I'll study now."
She looked a good deal happier. Fifteen minutes later, Angelina snapped her book shut.
"I've hand enough of the stunning spell theory for one afternoon, I think," she said. "How about Hogsmeade? Are we still planning on going together, because I'm invited Oliver to join us."
Suddenly, I realized I'd forgotten all about telling them about Cedric.
"Guys!" I said excitedly, "I just remembered! You'll never guess who asked me to go with him this weekend!"
"Fred!" Angelina and Alicia exclaimed simultaneously. Their faces gleamed with excitement and expectation, and they leaned forward, eager to hear more. That put me off a little bit.
"No," I said annoyed, "Cedric asked me. Cedric Diggory!"
I watched their jaws drop with pleasure. Alicia was the first to speak.
"Katie, no way!" she squealed excitedly. "This is like the biggest thing since--ever!"
Angelina wasn't quite as quick to believe me.
"No," she slowly, "Don't believe her 'Leesh. Look at her face, she's lying to us."
"I'm not even kidding!" I protested. "He really did ask me! That's why I was late to potions!"
"Are you serious?"
"YES!"
"Oh…my…gosh! This is huge, Katie!"
"You think!" I asked incredulously. "And I have nothing to wear!"
"Girls!" yelled Madame Pince, who had swooped over us. "Please be quiet, or I shall throw you out of the library!"
"We were going anyway," Angelina snapped, and we grabbed our books and headed down to dinner.
We discussed my possible outfit options with all the eagerness you could expect from teenage girls. We were still chatting about it as we reached the table, again to join the boys who'd managed to get there first.
"What's up with you girls?" Oliver asked curiously, putting his arm around Angelina to guide her to the table just like a perfect gentleman would. We liked to tease him about that.
"Probably discussing how immensely good looking I am," Fred said casually.
"Sorry then, mate, I think if that was the case, than it would be me they're talking about," Lee said, just as seriously.
We all laughed as George interrupted, "Or…could it be Katie's hot date this weekend with the dashing, yet completely worthless, Cedric Diggory?"
I gasped as George snickered and Fred turned away.
"How did you hear about that, George?" I demanded, leaning in eagerly as I took my usual space between the twins.
"Whole school's talking about it, Kates," he replied, taking a swig of pumpkin juice, clearly loving the fact that he knew something I didn't.
"George!" I cried, exasperated. "Fred, is that true?" I asked, turning to him.
"Wouldn't know," he said, rather coldly. "I try to block out things about that git."
I stared at him, completely astonished, and was about to ask what on Earth possessed him to say that when Cedric himself obscured my vision by sitting directly between Fred and me.
"Hey you," he said, smiling. "Listen, I heard you had a little run in with Professor Snape yesterday…are you okay?"
His eyes showed concern and he tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. My whole body tingled.
"Just fine, Cedric," I replied in a would-be calm voice, "Thanks for the concern, though."
He grinned. "Cool," he said. "Just wanted to make sure nothing happened to my favorite little brounette before Saturday. We're still on, right?"
"Definitely," I said, returning the grin.
After he'd left, Lee, George, and Oliver all burst out laughing. "Favorite little brunette!" George crowed, with tears in his eyes. I remained defiant. "So?" I asked.
"So it's the stupidest thing I've heard in my life!" Fred said suddenly. He was looking daggers, and it scared me.
"Fred!" I cried, "What's gotten into you? You're not acting like yourself at all…if you were, you'd be laughing as much as these three morons are."
"Well maybe I don't think it's funny, Katie, that you're dating an idiot."
"Fred--"
But Angelina interrupted.
"You mean it's the cutest thing you ever heard!" She squealed, and grabbed me by the arm to start dragging me off. "Now if you don't mind, we have an outfit to buy. Tomorrow's Friday and then there's only one more day until Katie's big date!"
And though I was appreciative of her enthusiasm, I couldn't help but think that that wasn't exactly the greatest thing to say at the moment. In fact, I was sure of it, as I looked back and saw Lee and George giving him curious looks and saying "What's up with you, mate?" as Fred stabbed his codfish moodily and ripped off the end with his teeth. Fred hates codfish.
………………………………...
I had a hard time getting to sleep that night. I kept thinking about Fred's strange reaction to my upcoming date with Cedric. I felt guilty for how strongly he seemed to oppose the idea, but had no idea as to what I'd done to feel guilty about. I sighed heavily and turned over to my side, trying to discern my friend's odd behavior.
Fred had never seemed to care before when I dated people, just as I stayed out of his business when he went out with other girls. It was a weird situation, and never really pleasant for either of us, but we never put up a fight about it. Of course, we'd date people, we were teenagers. I'd steer him away from sluts and he made sure I kept away from players, but Cedric wasn't known to be a player…so what was he getting at?
A gently piano melody distracted me from my thought. It was the first simple beginnings of Pachelbel's Cannon in D. I listened to the almost hypnotic melody as it grew and grew in complexity, taking me away for a moment from my little four poster bed and all the troubles in my head. It was peace.
Soon, however, as the pianist continued the long arrangement, I grew curious as to who it could be. Since they'd placed the old piano in the common room, I'd only ever seen myself, Percy and George Weasley, Oliver Wood, and a seventh year named Haley DeVaccio play equal to this pianist. Percy and Haley were too self-righteous to be out of bed disturbing the peace at this time of night. Oliver certainly would be in bed, we had a match tomorrow. That left George, but it just didn't seem in character for him to be playing a soothing piano melody instead of sleeping. Still, I got out of bed, mostly because the music was so beautiful, but partially because I wanted the chance to talk to George about Fred's strange behavior. It as almost in a trance that I followed to music.
I walked down the stairs and sure enough found red hair poking over the top of the grand piano. But as I approached, I found that it wasn't the particular redhead I was looking for.
It was Fred. I stared for a moment, stunned. If he saw me, he gave no notice. I gently slid in next to him on the bench and watched for a moment his fingers dancing freely up and down the keyboard. I closed my eyes and quietly began playing a gentle countermelody to the piece a couple of octaves higher. He responded only by conscientiously connecting his part with mine. The effect was beautiful, both of us side by side, putting a little piece of ourselves into a song.
When it reached the end, we were both silent for a while, until he turned to look over at me, and I said, "Why didn't you ever tell me you could play? All those times George and I had those cheesy contests you were right there. Why didn't you ever speak up?"
"Dunno," he replied. "I guess I just liked hearing you play."
"Really?"
"Well, that and I didn't want anyone to think I was gay."
He grinned, and I laughed with him for a second. "Well," I said, "I think you're brilliant."
"Really?"
"Yeah!"
"Cool," he said, looking genuinely pleased. "But I think together we're wicked."
I laughed. "Definitely."
"Do you always only give one word answers?" he asked, raising both of his eyebrows the way he does when he's teasing me.
"Your mum only gives one word answers!" I replied, giggling.
"Oh, Katie, you're too cruel! My mum's dead!"
"Really, then who was it that made you that dashing sweater you're sporting tonight?"
"It was a recent family tragedy!" he said defensively.
"Oh, do say!"
"Yes, she was helping me pack my trunk for school, and she came across the picture you gave me of yourself and died of horror right then and there."
"Horror! No, my dear friend, I disagree entirely. I would have to say it would be my heartstopping beauty that did the deed."
He laughed. "Alright, Bell, you win. You always do."
"Of course I do," I replied happily, and flopped down on a nearby couch. He did the same. It was quiet for a while before I asked, "Fred, why does it bug you so much that I'm hanging out with Cedric Saturday?"
"Katie, why do you say my name so much?"
"Fred."
"See!"
"FRED!"
"Okay, okay…" He stretched out and sobered quickly. "I dunno, Kates, he's just…he's an idiot. He doesn't deserve to be with you."
He said that with quite a bit of animosity and it angered me. "He has straight O's! How is he an idiot! That's more than you can say!" I glared at him.
"Not that kind of an idiot," he said.
"Well, what kind then?"
"Honestly…Katie, you're making a big mistake, taking up this bate he's giving you. You're just the flavor of the week to him."
"I'm the what!" I said, eyes flashing.
"Flavor of the week. He's an idiot. He's just going for you 'cause he thinks you're hott and he happens to be single at the moment."
"You're cracked up."
"Am I? He hasn't paid any attention to you at all until this year! You're cracked up if you can't see that, Katie!"
"Oho!" I cried, standing up. "Are you calling me stupid now?"
"Yeah, maybe I am," he snapped, standing up as well.
"You're stupid," I said lamely, and marched over to the stairs. "What's wrong with going on a date with someone because you think they're hott anyway? It seems like a pretty good place to start to me!"
"You deserve someone who'll date you for more reason that that! You should have someone who appreciates you for you!"
"Maybe in time Cedric will!"
"That's just it," he cried, frustrated. "You shouldn't have to wait for that, Katie. You deserve that right now!"
"And where am I gonna find him, Fred?" I shot back. "Huh? Name one person who, according to you would be qualified to date me? Who's already on that level with me and would want to, huh? Who?"
"I--" he stumbled for a couple of seconds as though trying to formulate the words correctly in his head. I didn't give him time to figure out a comeback, though.
"That's what I thought," I said haughtily, stomping up the stairs, feeling terribly hurt and eyes stinging.
I stopped at the top of the stairs and turned back, looking down on him. "I thought I could count on you to be happy for me!" I lashed out. "You play piano brilliantly and you still suck!"
I spun around and stomped off to bed.
Fred angrily picked up a small throw pillow and thrust it into the fire. "STUPID!" he whispered angrily to himself, and huffed on up to his own dorm room
