Chapter 2 – Hearts Breaking Even
If I only knew that falling asleep on the common room couch was going to get me in trouble, I would have stayed in my own bed. When I woke up every other Gryffindor student was bustling around the common room. I sat up and fixed my tousled hair into a ponytail. Wood had just started to wake as I got up from where I had been sitting with him. I quickly walked up the winding steps to my room. The room was cluttered now with trunks and other things that belonged to the others in the room. I somehow found my way to my bed only to be attacked by Liz and Raven.
"Lucia, what were you and Oliver Wood doing on the couch?"
"Did you come here with him?" the girls asked one after the other, almost finishing each others thoughts. Both stood at the foot of my four post bed waiting for a reply.
"Hi guys, nice to see you too. How was your summer?" I asked sarcastically. They gave me a stern look as if I would be grounded if I didn't answer them. "Geez, cut me some slack here. Wood and I got here early but we didn't come together. I left because of my father and he wanted to work on quidditch plays. I was going to read in the common room when I walked into Wood, literally. We started talking about this year and a little about last year. He asked me if I wanted to watch a movie and he put on Gone with the Wind. Oh, and I'm going to homecoming with him," I said rather quickly as if it were nothing.
The girls couldn't speak. They just stood there staring at me. After about five minutes Raven spoke. "Wood asked you to the dance? And you said yes? You mean you're actually going to a dance with a date? Awe, that is just too cute. Are you guys an item now?"
"No, I don't like him like that. I agreed to go because its homecoming and its our final year and we're friends. I want to go with someone who I like, at least as a friend."
Liz tossed her curly blonde hair over her shoulders before shrieking. "I think you guys are made for each other. It's just like She's All That and Boys and Girls combined with extra magic." She pulled out her wand and swished it around.
There was a knock on the door. "Come in," I yelled. Through the boxes I could see Wood coming my way.
"Lucia, you left this downstairs. I thought you might want it." Wood handed me the book with a smile. "I'll see you ladies later." The three of us watched him walk out of the room without saying anything in return.
As the door closed behind him, Raven and Liz shrieked together. You couldn't tell these two about something love related without them going crazy. I playfully slapped both their arms as I walked out of the room. "I'm going to get something to eat in the main hall," I called back to them. I heard their fast footsteps behind me. They weren't coming with me for food. They were coming to see if another magical moment was going to happen between Wood and me.
I got to the last step and saw Professor McGonagall standing next to Wood. She noticed me and pointed me over. "Miss Lang, come with me." I was in trouble. McGonagall was quiet the whole time we walked to her office. Wood and I took a seat preparing for the consequences of our actions from last night. "Miss Lang and Mr. Wood, I understand that Dumbledore knew you were both here last evening. However, the way both of you spent the evening was inappropriate for our school. I will not tolerate any funny business going on within this facility. I can understand that while spending several years with the same people you can develop feelings. You may start to see each other but nothing else will be tolerated. Do you understand?"
Wood spoke, "Yes, Professor McGonagall. It's just so hard to be in love and holding our feelings in is extremely tough. But I promise you, we will try to do a better job." Wood and I both stood to leave. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into him. He was pretending that we were a couple! We walked towards the door and went into the hallway.
"Real nice, Wood. What if she sends letters home to our parents? I'm sure I'll be grounded for the rest of my life when I get home." I tried hard not to laugh at the thought of Wood's declarations of love for me.
"You know you enjoyed it. Anyway it doesn't really matter what everyone thinks."
I pulled my cell phone out of my skirt pocket to check the time. It was just about five. Wood and I had fallen asleep around three this morning. I guess we had slept most of the day away. "The feast is about to begin. Maybe we should get to the hall. I know Liz and Raven are waiting for me. I'm sure Fred and George are looking for you."
"I am getting a little hungry myself."
When we arrived most seats were taken. Before I could make it to the open seat beside Liz, Nina Caprice stopped me to talk. "Lucia, it's been so long since I've seen you last. Do you mind if we have a little chat? Oh, hello Oliver."
"Hi Nina," Wood said distractedly. He waved at Fred and George then turned back to me. "Luc, I'll see you later." He squeezed my shoulder and went to meet the Weasley twins.
I watched Nina's eyes follow Wood to the table. She watched him as if she owned him. I had never seen someone look at another person the way she was but I understood when she started talking. "How cute, you guys have nicknames for each other and he's taking you to homecoming. That's really sweet. But I just want to give you a head's up: before the year is through, Oliver will be mine. Just a warning and don't get too attached to him. You don't want your poor little heart to break." Nina's dirty blonde hair swayed like Jan Brady's across her back as she walked away. I had no idea where she got the idea that she had the right to claim him. Wood was his own person and he had the right to choose who he wanted to be with, even if he wanted to be with me.
I quickly shook the thoughts of Wood and me being together away. I made my way towards the girls. As I sat down I ran my hands through my silky light brown hair. Raven leaned over Liz. "What were you and Nina talking about?"
"Nothing, don't worry about it. It's something I have to deal with." I hated saying that to my friends but I couldn't risk them doing something stupid.
Dumbledore appeared beside me holding a little envelope in red. "Lucia, this came for you moments ago," he explained with a concerned look on his face. He handed me the letter. But it wasn't a regular letter. It was a howler. Dumbledore ran a sympathetic hand across my shoulders as he walked away.
I placed the letter on the table waiting to see what he had to say. The envelope opened itself up and began to howl. "Lucia Darrin Lang, how dare you defy me! You were told strictly that you were not allowed back to that stupid school. There's no such thing as magic. It was a mistake letting you go there. You'll never have a future in witch craft and now you'll no longer have a future as a normal person in America. You are no longer welcome in my home. I'm through with you and your childish antics. Good-bye Lucia." As the howler finished, it ripped itself up into tiny shreds leaving red debris on the table. I stared at the paper and felt tears well up in my eyes. I couldn't cry in front of everyone, I couldn't.
I stood up from the table without saying a word. I walked as normally as possible out of the hall, but as soon as the doors were behind me I ran. I just wanted to be alone. My family had just disowned me. Neither my grandparents nor my mother tried to stop him. I ran until my tears took up most of my breathing. I walked slowly. My body shook violently from the tears and the overwhelming feeling of loneliness.
I went to the basement to get into the common room. My mind went black as the picture asked for the password. I was too distressed to think. I sat on the floor with my back against the door. I placed my head in my hands and cried continuously. I could hear heavy footsteps running towards me. I looked up to see him.
"Luc, I'm so sorry. Come here," Wood sat down beside me. He wrapped his arm around me holding me close to him. "I'm sorry. Shh…" he tried to calm me down the best he could. He held me close to him and petted my head in comfort.
That's when I first realized that maybe Wood and I wasn't such a crazy idea. If he cared he would be here and he was.
He didn't want me to be hurt. He kissed the top of my head. I stayed there with him until I got control of myself. He helped me up and looked at me straight," If you ever need me, I'll be here."