A/N: I know. And I'm thinking you guys are getting really sick of me apologising for taking forever to update. It was my birthday, and I didn't really have time to sit down and write this, because school's started back up again… bummer. But I'm updating now! Woo hoo! Hehehe. This chapter is a tad strange, but I don't think it's any strange than some of my other, stranger, chapters. It's just strange in a different way. Anyway, thanks to all my reviewers: You guys are the best! I think I might have even just scraped ten reviews too, so even though that's not a lot when compared to the amount of people who have this on alerts/favs, it's heaps to me and I really appreciate it.

January 1st

I can't believe it. I swear, my jaw has dropped the whole five feet two of my length. It's just shocking. And maddening… the more I think about it, the angrier I get. In fact, I am this close to going and bashing her brains out. Or at least, getting someone to do it for me…

It was a beautiful, sunny day. Birds were chirping, old men were whistling as they walked down the path, and the young children were skipping in the roads. All the muggle things- motor-vehicles, I think- stopped and gazed happily at the kiddies as they played, and everyone was singing and laughing happily whist holding hands and dancing…

Okay, so maybe that's a slight exaggeration. Whatever. The point is, it was a good day, until I got on the train that would take us away to Hogwarts for another term. I'd lost my friends, but I wasn't all that worried. I mean, they are a bit odd, so I expected to find them in the place that I'd least expect them to be. Make sense?

Anyway, I was walking down the aisle cheerfully, happily poking my head into random cabins, frightening the first years and generally being a nuisance. Then, I suddenly came across a cabin that had a mysterious… aura around it. My aunt Demelza tried to fine tune me in the art of aura detection, can't say I was much good at it…

So I poked my head into the cabin, and to my (at first) pleasant surprise, I saw that it was my fellow Gryffindors (the ones that aren't part of my group, but who I considered to be friends anyway.) I was all set to greet them enthusiastically, like I normally do to anyone who I even remotely know, when I heard Jessica White say my name. And, seriously. Of course you eavesdrop on a conversation when your name is mentioned. It's practically a law.

Unfortunately for me, I did not particularly like what I heard. Not at all.

"… Can you believe that he would even go out with her? She's not even pretty!"

Her friend, Jacey, made a non-committal sort of noise which seemed to satisfy Jessica, because she ranted right on. "And it's not like she's skinny or anything. What, with the amount of pancakes she eats, I'm surprised she doesn't look like an elephant!"

Okay, can you say harsh or what? She was comparing me to an elephant. This girl so should have been put in Slytherin. I mean, I know we've had our differences in the past, starting but not ending with that time I told her she reminded me of that Hagrid's dog. I mean, I was a first year! Who can even hold grudges for that long, anyway? But I thought we'd worked our issues out. Apparently though, Jess had not allowed herself to let go of them just then. Bitter much?

"And that hair. I mean, she is such a tomboy. She doesn't even put any effort into her clothes."

Hans, whose bed is next to George's, laughed. "Why? You jealous or something?" I felt vaguely gratified that at least somebody was defending my honour, until I remembered that Hans actually likes Jessica, and was probably trying to get the scoop on her. Bugger.

Jessica scoffed. "As if! I just don't know why Lee is going out with her, and not me. I mean, she looks like a man for Merlin's sake…"

My brain didn't really have to time to go, 'Oh, so she is jealous of me,' before I slammed open the compartment door and held my wand at her face. Yeah, a tad rash, I guess, looking back. But then again, I've never been known for my calculating actions…

"What the hell?" Jess screamed, whilst Hans looked mildly alarmed and Jacey just looked bored. I bet she'd rather have been sitting in a compartment with her best friend, who's in Ravenclaw… I think. Either way, they were in a prefect meeting, so she was stuck with Jess. Better her than me, I say.

"Take it back," I hissed venomously. Or at least as venomously as I could manage while still biting my tongue to keep from laughing hysterically at the look on her face. It was as if a small mutt had just come up and randomly peed on her leg. She was flabbergasted.

She gave me a look that said, 'Are you kidding?' before glaring at me as I raised my wand. I don't think I would really have set the bat bogey hex on her. For one thing, I'm not much good at it, so I probably would have accidentally permanently transfigured her nose into a bat with a bogey or something. For another, I don't think I'm quite that mean. But I guess I'll never find out, because Fred happened to poke his head in the compartment at the worst (or the best, I suppose, depending on which way you look at it) possible time.

"Katie!" He cried, visibly trying to contain himself from getting down on his knees and worshipping me. He hates Jess with a passion, ever since she practically forced herself on him last year, right in front of Angelina. "What did Jess do now?"

"Hey!" Jess said indignantly, even though my wand was practically pointed at her head. "Why is it my fault?" She even had the nerve to look affronted.

"Oh," Fred replied casually, "because it always is your fault." He got out his own wand and twirled it through his fingers. "So are you going to tell me what you said to anger my dear friend, or should I just unleash her on you?" He leaned closer, and stage-whispered, "trust me. You don't want Katie on your bad side… I still have bruises." He lifted the arm of his shirt to reveal two huge purplish-black spots that I swear I had nothing to do with.

"Too late," I muttered, glaring at Fred. If only I had reacted a second quicker, I might have been able to hex her… or at least find someone willing.

"I didn't do anything!" Jess wailed, glancing first to Jacey and then to Hans for help. The remaining person in the compartment, Brencis (I know, what sort of person calls their kid that?) was fast asleep in the corner. Then, finding none, she looked over to Fred and said, "okay, okay. I'll tell you." She was ignoring me, and to tell the truth I was getting a little bored. So I might have, I don't know, taken a step back or something, figuring that Fred could deal with it.

The next thing I know, she's kicked me in the stomach, and bolted out the door. Just like that. No warning, no nothing. One second she's looking at Fred all coyly, and then she's just socked me.

So that's why my jaw's dropped five feet, two inches. I mean, hell yeah, it hurts, but I'm still trying to get my mind around the fact that her foot touched me. That there is a serious health hazard. I mean, technically, she's touched her shoes and her shoes have now touched me. You do the maths.

Fred also looks shocked. For about two seconds, and then he starts laughing hysterically at me. I mean, jeez. You'd think he'd have a little more compassion that than that. For all he knows, I could be dying of a bacterial disease right now. And he couldn't care less.

"That… was… so… so… funny…" He manages to say, before clutching his own stomach and shaking so that for a second I wonder is he's having a fit, or something. Hans is staring after Jess, an expression of absolute adoration on his face. Jacey's looking at Hans' drool, wrinkling her nose, and Brencis is still asleep. I swear I've never seen him awake. Ever.

"It hurts!" I screech at him, fairly put out at the fact that he enjoys my suffering. And I thought he was my friend!

"I bet," Jacey mutters. She's staring at me curiously, and I wonder why. Until I look down, and realise that I'm still doubled over and my hands are still covering my stomach. I can't help it if I have a weak stomach! I tell her that, and she heaves a sigh of relief. "Oh," she says, smiling. "I thought… you know…"

"No," I answer. Why does she have to speak in code? I can't understand normal English, let alone when people go, 'you know…' Guess what, people? I don't know!

Jacey turns the colour of a squashed tomato. "Well, I thought that… You um, might be…"

I sigh. I thought we had an open relationship. "It's okay," I tell her. "I know exactly what you mean! It does hurt, but not so much any more. Good that I'm not still feeling sick, hey?"

She lets out a sigh. "Oh," she says. "So you were having morning sickness, then?"

"Well, no," I reply, slightly puzzled. "It was last night, actually. I ate some bad chicken."

"You're lucky," she says, still eyeing my stomach. Maybe she's concerned about the bruise and how it will affect my Quidditch skills? "My mum had terrible morning sickness with my younger brother." She shudders. "It was gross."

"Your mum and your brother were sick at the same time?" I ask sympathetically. "That's rough."

Jacey blushes again. "No, I don't think you're getting me-"

"Oh my God!" Someone suddenly shouts, so that everyone in the compartment jumps. "Can you get any thicker?" This comment is rather rudely directed towards me. It's Brencis, and it appears that he actually hasn't been sleeping the entire time. More like eavesdropping on a personal conversation. "She thinks you're pregnant!" He fairly screams at me.

Huh? "WHAT?" I scream back at him, Jacey and the entire student population of Hogwarts. "YOU THINK I'M PREGNANT?" It's now my turn to turn as red as five squashed up tomatoes.

Needless to say, Fred is finding all this highly entertaining.

Jacey shrugs. "It's just that you seem, um, very… um, protective of your stomach," she says, embarrassed. But not nearly as embarrassed as I am when a prefect comes into the compartment looking shocked. "What's this all about?" They yell, and everyone starts trying to explain at once, so we're all yelling and screaming at each other.

"Quiet!" the prefect yells, and to my horror (and Fred's glee) I see that it's the seventh year Gryffindor prefect. Bugger. "Let me get this straight. Katie's pregnant?"

"No!" I howl. "I am not!" If it really weren't so sad I'd be laughing. But as it is I'm this close to crying. Where's a large hole when you need it?

"Detention!" The prefect yells automatically, barely seeing us. She starts talking to herself, and it's then that I remember her name. She's like the house oddball, she's constantly talking to herself and giving out weird instructions. Daisy White… Jessica's sister. Double bugger.

"That's not fair!" I tell her huffily. "I haven't even done anything!" Besides threaten your sister.

"What about our Quidditch hopes? You should have thought about that before you decided to start fooling around with that Jordan boy."

Oh. My. God. She did not just say that.

"She did not just say that!" Jacey echoes my thoughts, looking almost as embarrassed as me. The worst part is, that heaps of people have gathered around our door, trying to see what all the yelling and screaming is about. Well, now they know. There's a lot of whispered mutterings, and then I see some familiar faces push through.

"Katie!" Angelina exclaims, looking so worried that I almost start to cry. Note to self: Do not cry. Do not cry. "What happened?"

"Are you okay?" Alicia asks, coming up and putting an arm around me sympathetically. Lee and George come in, too. Lee looks like he doesn't know quite what to do. I mean, it's just so… weird. Half the school's standing in the corridor waiting to find out what will happen in the next instalment of the Katie Saga or something.

He rubs the back of his neck with one hand. "Er." Awkward much?

Alicia takes control of the situation, which is slowly beginning to seem funny. I mean, I was accused by my arch enemy's sister of being pregnant which resulted in the whole school leaving their cabins and coming to see what was happing... Yeah, it's a little funny. "Everybody! Go back to your compartments!" She commands, point down the hallway. Oddly enough, they obey her, and soon no one is left apart from Daisy White, Jacey, Hans, Brencis and my friends.

"Do you mind?" Angelina asks Daisy icily. "I think you've been enough of a bitch today."

"Well!" Daisy huffs and then flounces away, presumably to accuse someone else of getting married or pushing someone over a cliff or into the path of an oncoming truck or something. She's like that.

"I would just like to make it known," I begin solemnly, to everyone left. Which is like, nine people. It's a wonder we can fit into the cabin! Actually, I wonder how we can… Anyway, back to the subject at hand. "That I am not pregnant, fatally ill, turning into a elephant or running off with my next door neighbour's cat."

Fred lets out an involuntary snort, and then everyone starts laughing. It's good, because it eases the tension. Hans just looks confused. "Cat? Why would you be running off with a cat?"

Lee just rolls his eyes and pats him on the head. "Never mind. Maybe when you're older."

"Where were you guys?" I ask, sitting down so abruptly that Jacey barely has time to move before I sit on her. "You left me all alone with these guys. And Jess," I add as an afterthought. I sort of forgot about her.

Brencis snorts. Now I know why he sleeps all the time… no one can stand him when he's awake! "Thanks a lot," he says, which I think is supposed to be sarcastic. Pity he can't really pull it off then.

"We were looking for you," Lee says quickly.

George scoffs. "No we weren't," he argues. "We were trying to see who could eat the most pumpkin pasties the quickest." He smirks and elbows him. "I won."

"Did not!"

"Did too…"

Alicia sighs and groans. "Boys," she complains.

Angelina nods as Fred joins in the argument too. "Do they ever grow up?"

By the time we get off the train, it's practically dark. So dark, in fact, that I can't tell whom it is I'm following and guess who ends up in my carriage? I can't believe my luck is so bad. Fate is a bitch.

Stormie McNamara, Jessica White and Aaron Abbot all end up in my carriage. It kind of makes me wonder whom I was following to even end up there, but whatever. Can you say bad luck? And what makes it all the worse is that Aaron and I haven't spoken the entire holidays due to the fact that he's going out with Stormie (although why anyone would go out with her is beyond me), and I hate Stormie. So all in all, it's a friendly, cosy ride up to the castle. Not.

"Why, if it isn't Katie Bell," Stormie drawls, looking me up and down, and apparently deciding that my dress sense hasn't improved over the holidays, because she sneers and glares at me. "What brings you to my fine abode?"

"Your presence," I retort sarcastically. I inch over to the side as far as possible, in order to get away from Jess. She's letting off a really disgusting smell… maybe it's her when she's clean.

"Glad to know it's that riveting," she returns. One thing about Stormie; at least she knows some big words. Although, being in Ravenclaw and all, it's not exactly unexpected. Still, she's one of the 'dumber' Ravenclaws. At least, in my humble opinion.

Jessica frowns. "What's riveting?" She asks. Too bad not all of us in the carriage have such a high IQ.

Then I look over to Stormie, only to shudder in disgust when I see her and Aaron practically sucking each other's faces. I mean, ew! As if I wanted to see that. But then I decide, if I'm stuck in a carriage with Stormie and Aaron, I might as well kill two birds with one rock. I can get Jess later. Maybe short sheet her sheets, or put golden syrup in her foundation, or magically dye her mascara green. Ah, the possibilities…

"You know," I say conversationally, looking out the window to the ever-increasing size of the castle, "your mum won't like that, Abbot."

"What?" He asks, confused. Maybe it's shocking him that I've actually spoken eight words to him. I know; I was counting on not speaking to him for the rest of the New Year. Oh well. Sacrifices have to be made, I suppose.

"You know, you being with Stormie and all." I know for a fact that he didn't dare invite Stormie over to his place, on account of how his mum would have blown a casket if he had. "She's still hung up on me, see," I explain to Stormie, who's blinking and staring at me mutinously. "We're betrothed, like all good purebloods are wont to do," I say, still talking as thought it were perfectly normal to be talking about such things, Then again, I've talked about worse.

"What?" Stormie screeches, turning furiously to Aaron. "You're going- to- marry- her?" She shrieks, pointing a clawed finger in my general direction. It's rather amusing to watch, actually. "Why didn't you tell me? I never would have agreed to go out with you!"

Well then. No wonder he didn't tell her. And I think I'll tell her later that it was when we were three, and no one apart from Aaron's mum takes it seriously. She's a bit hung up on the fact that her darling boy has 'already' found someone to marry him. I think it slipped her mind that we were three and playing 'Mr and Mrs pirate' at the time.

"You don't understand," Aaron tells her desperately. "It's not-"

"Oh, I understand perfectly!" She yells, throwing something that sounds suspiciously like metal against the floor. "I'm your second choice! I'm second to Katie Bell!" It's extremely entertaining, now. Much like those shows that Alicia loves watching on the holidays, where everyone throws themselves off cliffs and dies of overdoses and get married and then get married to someone else. Very dramatic.

"No, Sugarplum!" He yells, and both Jess and I make gagging noises. It's almost enough to make me retch. "That's not how it is!"

God. Just tell the cow to rack off if she doesn't believe you, you moron! I mean, yeah, it does occur to me that what I'm doing is bitchy and mean and stuff. But I have to admit that I am a bit of a bitch sometimes, and it serves him right for ignoring me all week, anyway.

"Oh yeah?" Stormie yells, as the carriage comes to an abrupt halt and she falls over, because she had stood up defiantly. She struggles back up again, and I observe with interest that her hair is actually messed up. I'd never have thought it possible, previously. "Well that's how it seems!" She yanks open the door and attempts to strut out, if not for the fact that there's a huge gap between the carriage floor and the grass. She falls over into the melting snow. I'm laughing so hard I'm almost suffocating.

The three of us sit in a sort of stunned silence, until Aaron seems to gather his wits and turns on me. "Thanks a lot!" He cries. "What'd you do that for?"

I shrug. "Felt like it."

Aaron scoffs and turns to leave the carriage, before turning back and glaring at me. "You know, Bell, you can be a real bitch sometimes." Then he turns around and manages to exit without the breaking of any bones.

"Yeah, yeah!" I call after him, feeling kind of sorry for myself. It's not my fault I've had a cruddy day. It's actually Jessica's, and she just so happens to still be sitting next to me. "What are you looking at?" I sneer, and get out of the carriage. God, I hate it when I'm moody. I am such a bitch. Maybe it's me who should have been put in Slytherin.

I finally manage to locate my friends, who either don't seem to notice my crappy mood or don't comment on it. We sit down at the Gryffindor table, waiting for Dumbledore to announce all the usual boring notices.

"Where'd you go?" Alicia hisses across the table.

"Hell," I mutter, feeling as though it actually was. Well, apart from the part where Stormie fell over in the snow. That was pretty funny. I'm still hyperventilating from when I laughed so much.

Alicia raises an eyebrow, but says no more because Dumbledore stands up and begins his long, looooong speech. "Students," he says, in his booming voice, "welcome back to Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry. I would like to start by reminding you all that the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds, and students caught at its boundaries or in it will be persecuted."

"Bummer," I hear Fred whisper to George.

Dumbledore's gaze rests pointedly on them before he continues. "Mr Filch has asked me to remind you that any students caught with any number of the four hundred and fifty three items on his banned list will result in immediate detention."

"He's added more," George whispers, looking happy.

"All the more reason to get our hands on them, brother," Fred replies, looking just as excited. Alicia shoots them a disapproving glare before Dumbledore starts back up again.

"I'd also like to take the opportunity to remind you that the Dementors are here for a sole purpose only; that is to find Sirius Black. They will not know the difference between you and him, so I suggest it wise to stay away from them."

"My dad told me a way longer version of that," Angelina murmurs. "Ending with, 'If you go near them you will not be returning home'. I mean, blackmail, or what?"

"And now, a particular person amongst ourselves has happy news that she would like to share with us." He sat down, his eyes twinkling.

I'm surprised when Jessica White stands up, looking around at everyone self-importantly. "I'd like to announce some joyous news," she begins. "I'd like to tell you that Katie Bell and Aaron Abbot-"

What can I say? I panic. So in the middle of the astonished looks from my friends, and my brain going haywire, I stand up and scream out, "it's not true! Aaron Abbot and I aren't getting married!"

Well. After that there's one hell of a commotion. Everybody starts talking and whispering and yelling, and the teachers look just as bewildered as everyone else. Only Lee, Stormie, Jess and Aaron have any remote idea about it, and Lee has no clue as to why I just yelled that out in front of the entire school. I mean, I figured that was what she was about to announce. It's only logical, right?

So imagine my surprise when I just manage to catch the rest of Jess' sentence. "-Have been named Students of the Term!"

Oh. My. God.

Being Students of the Term is a huge honour at Hogwarts. Each term two students are picked out of the entire school for various reasons and they get an award and stuff, and go on this list in the trophy room. It could be for anything- sport, academics, or whatever. I mean, I have no idea why I'm suddenly picked, or why Jess had to announce it. But then I remember that Jess is spokesperson for the committee, or whatever it is that entitles her to speak in front of the school.

And now I've just gone and screamed out that Aaron and I aren't getting married. On top of the whole school thinking for about two minutes this morning that I was pregnant. God, it sucks to be one of those people who other people always talk about- for all the wrong reasons. It also sucks being one of those people where humiliation seems to trail them like a black cloud. Ahem, me.

"You and Abbot were getting married?" Angelina screams at me over the noise. Seriously. It's so loud it's almost a riot. I mean, I know it's not cool and everything to disrupt your school meals and stuff, but it is kind of cool that I can cause one in the first place. 'What did you do yesterday, Katie?' 'Oh, nothing much. Caused a riot in my school hall, the usual… You?'

"No!" I yell back defensively. "It's just that Jess thinks we were!"

"Why's that?" Lee asks next to me, smirking. It's okay for him- he's not the one who's made a total idiot of himself. Still, it's a bit odd that he finds the idea of his girlfriend marrying someone entertaining. Just a bit strange, I reckon…

"Long story," I reply.

"Ah," Lee answers. "That weird?"

"Attention!" Jess screams, practically banging her arm against the stand in order to try and restore order. Be funny if she got a broken arm, and I amuse myself with the notion until I realise that it's suddenly gone all quiet and I'm snickering to myself, with everyone around me looking at me all weird. "That's better." Her voice suddenly changes from angry to sweet and gentle. I swear that girl has a personality issue.

"Now, back to the award. Katie has been voted Student of the Term for her acceptance and helpfulness when it comes to the younger students. She's never afraid to give up her time for others, and that's why we've decided to award her Student of the Term!"

I have to struggle in order not to vomit. That is the biggest load of garbage I've heard, since, well, ever. I wonder who nominated me? I mean, it surely wouldn't have been anyone in second year… I never really thought I was known for my 'helpfulness' among them, anyway.

"And Aaron Abbot has been voted Student of the Term for his unwavering support for everything extra-curricular! He is a vital member for all teams and clubs, and we welcome him with open arms. Congratulations, Aaron!"

What the hell? As far as I know, Aaron's never signed up for a club in his life. He's opposed to the Duelling club, because he thinks it promotes sparring between friends (well, I think that's the whole point to Duelling Club, but whatever floats his boat). He's opposed to Gobstones Club, because he thinks it is an evil intent on capturing our minds and taking over the world. He's opposed to Quidditch, because he thinks it's a sexist sport and that it provides entertainment for blood-thirsty individuals, which is why at the end of last term he quit. Ha. Hufflepuff have to find a new Chaser, now…

For a minute, everyone around me is stunned. I mean, they've seen how I treat the kiddies. I'm not exactly the most tolerant of people in our house. Then they start celebrating, because it means I give them seventy-five house points (all of which I probably lost, anyway).

"Good job, Bell," Lee says approvingly, and he leans down to kiss me. Everyone's kissing everyone else, and I see out of the corner of my eye Daisy White, who's staring at Lee and I with narrowed eyes.

"I knew she was a s-" we never get to hear the rest of Daisy's observations, because I pull away from Lee and start chasing her through the Great Gall with a spork I've randomly picked off someone's table. I mean, I don't think I'll use it… But there's always a chance I'll find someone who will.