A/N: Oh man, I feel bad about this chapter. This chapter got to be the most poorly written chapter ever. I just got back in writing recently thanks to all the school and work stuff...Anyways, just a reminder--this story is slightly AU, as well as slow-pacing. So bear with me here. However, I will try to update whenever possible. And last, but not least: THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. However, I do own the plot of this fanfic, as well as the obviously make-up characters of this fanfic.
The sunlight directs at the display window as the afternoon slowly approaches. Theodore lamely stacks another pile of CDs on the shelf. When he reaches a new Spice Girls album, he frowns a bit, and then puts it away at the back of the shelf. Just then, the tiny door bells ring, and in rush the tripping drummer. Theodore raises his eyebrow in interest at the scene.
Neville clumsily picks himself up and walks toward the back room, apparently looking for Andy, yet still unaware of another presence in the store. He knocks on the door, "Sorry for coming to work so late..."
No reply.
"Andy?" Neville scratches his head, "Andy, are you in there?"
"That acne-face went out for awhile." The voice startles Neville. When he turns around, he sees a dark-brown hair guy around his age stacking the 'New Arrival' section full. Neville stares at him. For some strange reasons, this person seems familiar, like he sees him somewhere before. A question suddenly pops up to his mind. He asks, "Um...Why are you stacking up the shelf?"
"Working, obviously." Theodore responses. He presses the last cardboard box flat. "When did you start drumming?"
"W-what?" Neville blinks. He gives out a confused expression and asks, "How do you know..."
Theodore stares at him dully. "Your memory really stinks." He comments, while shoves the cardboards under the shelf with his foot. "And you still haven't answered me yet, or did you forget the question already."
Just who is this guy? At this moment, Neville tries hard to remember. Then, the blaring guitar playing flows back to him. His eyes widen, "You're the person who brought--"
"Yes, whatever." Theodore waves his sentence off. "You still haven't answer me yet."
Just then, Andy enters with the constant enthusiasm about him. "Hey Neville, why are you here? I thought it's your day off today." He says, "Oh well, since you're here, let me introduce our latest member of the crew—TN!"
"It's Theodore." Theodore corrects quickly, while glares at Andy.
Andy just ignores his glare and continues on. "And TN, this is Neville."
'Bloody persistent bastard.' Theodore curses mentally.
"Nice to meet you." Neville pulls out his hand.
However, Theodore ignores him and turns to ask Andy, "What else is there to do?"
Neville awkwardly puts his hand away.
"Now you're eager to work?" Andy teases. "Well, you and Neville can sweep up the place." Then, Andy notices the cardboards under the shelf. He shakes his head in disapproval. "And pick up the cardboards as well, TN. Neville will show you where to put them."
Theodore rolls his eyes in annoyance. It seems that there won't be any room to enlighten the acne face of his proper name.
As Neville picks up a flatten cardboard box, he realizes that Theodore is just sitting back on a chair, looking at him.
"Aren't you going to pick up the cardboards?" Neville asks.
"No." He answers flatly.
"No?" Neville repeats.
"Yes, that's what you heard. You have made no mistakes about that." Then he adds sarcastically, "Genius."
Just when Neville about to response to the comment, a red hair girl stomps in, trailing behind her, a girl of dirty blond hair that moves with her puzzled expression.
"Neville Longbottom" The girl with the fury red hair calls.
"H-hello, Ginny, Luna..." Neville greets nervously.
"I thought today's your day off! Why the bloody hell did you run all the way back here for? We could have the chance to meet the Witch Square in person!" Ginny says as her heard steams smoke.
"D-didn't we?" Neville cowers in his voice. "W-we saw them s-singing live..."
While Neville tries to reason with Ginny, the dirty blonde, Luna, looks around the place in wonderment. When her pair of silvery-gray eyes comes across a pair of honey-brown ones, her focus stops moving.
Theodore stares back. He recognizes her as the odd ball in the house of Ravenclaw. He has seen her wandering around in the library a few times. However, instead of looking for books, she is merely wandering about while holding an issue of that pointless, non-sense, The Quibbler tightly close to her chest. He even recalls her reading it upside-down once. She is indeed a strange bird. He is mildly interest in why she is staring at him like that, as if he is something interesting to study about. Does she recognize him? Not that he minds, because it would create some amusing scenes to happen if he does remember. Finally, he gets up from the chair languorously, never removing his eyes from the misty-gray ones. She flinches a bit when his shoulder lightly brushes hers as he walks by her and leaves the place. Luna turns just to find that the door shut closed again.
"Hey Luna, let's leave, since Longbottom has ruined our day enough as it is." Ginny announces as she grabs Luna's arm.
"Neville hasn't ruined my day." Luna responses in her usual dreamy voice.
Neville only stands still, looking helpless. There is no way for Ginny to listen as she is clouded by her temper. He has already told her that he would only be there at the Three Broomsticks for half day, because he wants to come back to see the improvements on his drum set done by Andy. However, it appears that she has forgotten that and is now blaming him for not being able to receive the Witch Square's autograph. Now, he even starts to doubt himself if he did told her beforehand.
"Oh come on, Luna." Ginny drags Luna with her out the door.
Neville sighs and drops onto the chair. Recently, he has been worry about Ginny. He cannot clearly say if it is just or if Ginny's mood has been swaying here and there lately. One thing he does know is that she suddenly becomes a fan of the Witch Square. If only Harry, Ron, and Hermione are here...He sighs heavily again. Finally, he looks up and finds Theodore missing. He quickly scans the place, "Theodore?"
"Is TN not here?" Andy pokes his head out from the back room.
"No..." Neville scratches his head in confusion. "He's not..."
"Theodore, dear? Why are you back so soon?" Aunt Mary asks.
"There was nothing to do." Theodore replies. In truth, he is not lying at all as there is nothing that interests him to do. At first, Neville's drummer background does spark an interest to him. However, it becomes quite an annoyance to deal with his forgetfulness. That guy never answers properly. Thinking about today, especially this afternoon...His mind moves to the pair of dazed gray eyes. He wonders if she recognizes him, and if she does, what will she do. She might inform the other two and starts to spy on every of his movement. To them, practically everybody of the Slytherin house is of evil intentions. 'Yes everyone of us is always up to no good. And you are all so ever in the right of justice.' He mocks mentally.
Hopefully you enjoy this chapter...man, I still feel bad about this chapter...so AH!!!!!!!! Therefore, I seriously wouldn't mind if you flame me on this chapter.