Author's Note: This chapter is pretty long, there was just a lot to put in it I guess. It's all Al, like the last one was all Scorp, they aren't all be like that, all one or the other, it depends on whether the song I'm using describes only one or both of them. This chapter was basically written because of the song, rather than me hearing the song and thinking it fit something I already had planned. But I think this worked out nicely. Also, there's a (het) sex scene in the chapter, still T, but a sex scene, just so you know. Anyways, less talk from me, more chapter, right? Right. Here you go.
-SQ
Disclaimer: I own Rebbecca (though not her last name) and my plot and other OCs, but the world of Harry Potter, and the song "Human Tornado" do not, have not, and will not, belong to me.
Chapter Five: Human Tornado
What had started as Albus, Morgan, Jerry, Asher, and Rose enjoying their afternoon free period had turned into the entirety of the Gryffindor sixth year congregating on the castle's front lawn. Not that Albus particularly minded, he was a social person after all, but still, a little time spent with fewer than a dozen people wouldn't be amiss.
Albus cast his gaze around the crowd of Gryffindors surrounding him.
A lot of things have changed in the past three years, he thought, not for the first time. A lot of things that I missed because I was too busy with Scorpius.
Though it had taken him a while, Albus was finally growing used to his new/old role at Hogwarts. He had to admit that he had missed this, being surrounded by people, focusing his attention mildly on many people instead of intently on one. Of course, the dynamics of some of the attention focused on him had changed somewhat.
The group, which had been slowly moving across the grounds, came to a halt near the Forbidden Forest. Albus, who had been chatting casually with Miles Kirke, turned and found himself suddenly face-to-face with Rebbecca Matlock, a girl who sported big blue eyes and chin-length, wavy brown hair. He jumped.
"Sorry, Albus," said Rebbecca, taking a step back and smiling at him. "I didn't mean to startle you. I wanted to ask you a question."
"Ask away," said Albus, smiling back at her. He couldn't help it. She was probably the first girl in two months besides his family and Morgan to approach him without blushing or giggling or some such thing, and she was certainly very charismatic.
"I was just wondering," she said, tapping her lips with the tip of one manicured fingernail. "If you would be interested in going to Hogsmeade with me this weekend. On a date."
Albus was opening his mouth the decline the offer, as he had so many others, when something made him look up. Scorpius was standing not forty feet away, watching the group intently, an unreadable expression on his face.
And I used to be able to read him so easily...
Their eyes met and Albus caught his breath.
What am I doing? He thought. I keep telling myself I'm waiting, but for what? I have been hoping for Scorpius and I to get back together somehow, he realized. But that's simply not going to happen. It's time to move on.
He tore his gaze away from Scorpius's.
Look around you, he told himself. You have a life, Albus Potter. Live it.
He looked back at Rebbecca Matlock, who was still looking at him questioningly, finger resting on her lips.
"Sure, I'd love to go to Hogsmeade with you this weekend," he told her. "It's a date."
Rebbecca grinned, her blue eyes sparkling. Several hands patted Albus on the back and a swarm of girls moved to envelope Rebecca.
"He actually said yes!"
"It's about time, mate!"
"You are soooooo lucky!"
"I was beginning to think you'd decided to remain a bachelor your whole life!"
"Why couldn't he have said yes to me?"
"Naw, he was just waiting for a girl he thought was good enough for him!"
"What are you going to wear?"
"Plenty of the ones he turned down were good enough for me!"
"Does this mean you're official now?"
"Hah! Seems to me like you weren't good enough for them."
"I was beginning to think maybe he was just a queer."
"They were just intimidated by my manliness!"
"How can you be so calm when you're going out with Albus Potter?"
"Oh, sure they were..."
Through the hubbub that had erupted around him, Albus thought he heard someone yell from over by the trees, but before he could look Rebbecca grabbed his hand.
"Walk me to dinner?"
Albus smiled at her, thanking Merlin that she did not in the least resemble Scorpius.
"My pleasure."
*****LA*****
The morning of the April Hogsmeade weekend dawned bright and clear, a sharp contrast to the rather dreary and wet days that had proceeded it.
"So, your first date with Rebbecca's today, yes?" said Asher from his bed as Albus considered his unruly hair in the mirror.
"Mmmhmm," said Albus distractedly, trying in vain to flatten the back of his black locks.
"Are you nervous?" asked Asher.
"Why should he be nervous?" said Jerry, swinging his legs over the side of his own bed. "He's the most sought after guy in the sixth year! Besides, it's just a date, he's been on dates before."
Albus paused with his hand on his head. Come to think of it, he hadn't been on a date before. Not really. He and Scorpius had gone places together, sure, but they had done practically everything together, so it didn't really count. And they hadn't gotten together in the most conventional way, either; Scorpius had kissed him and then run away, almost succeeding in throwing himself off a bridge before Albus had stopped him and proceeded to make-out with him in the pouring rain. No, decidedly not conventional. Unless you lived in one of those Muggle movies his Aunt Audrey liked so much. So, really, this was going to be Albus's first date, not that he was going to mention that to his friends, or to Rebbecca for that matter. Suddenly he felt decidedly more nervous.
"Er—mate? Earth to Albus?" said Asher, waving his hands in front of Albus's face enthusiastically.
Albus blinked. I look like a bloody idiot, he realized. He quickly dropped his hand from his head.
"Sorry," said Albus. "Er—how do I look?" Wow, what a girly question.
This thought was confirmed by Jerry's raised eyebrow. "Mate, your puff is showing," he said, punching Albus's shoulder gently. "You look fine. You might want to wear some shoes though. Just a thought."
"Er, right," said Albus, feeling like more of an idiot by the second.
Albus put on the recommended shoes, checked his hair in the mirror one more time, and left the dormitory for the common room.
Rebbecca was not there yet. Albus looked around the room. "Where is she? She said to meet her at ten."
James, who was sitting by the fire eating a piece of toast rolled his eyes at his brother. "Clueless. Utterly clueless. Girls are never on time. She's probably fixing her hair or putting on her make-up or some such thing."
"Oh..." said Albus.
Ten minutes later Rebbecca appeared on the girls' staircase.
"Rebbecca," said Albus, standing.
"Albus, hi," said Rebbecca, smiling at him, her blue eyes twinkling. "Are you ready?"
Albus nodded. "You look nice."
It was true. Rebbecca was dressed casually but strikingly in a cream-colored tank-top, a red button-up sweater which ended at the top of her ribcage and which she had left open, and hip-hugging jeans held up with a red leather belt.
"Thanks," said Rebbecca, kissing him on the cheek. "You look as adorable as always." She ruffled his sticking-up hair. "Are we off, then?"
"It would appear so," said Albus.
*****LA*****
Albus had never spent so much time shopping in his entire life. Rebbecca had insisted on going into nearly every store they saw, and trying out or trying on nearly every item they found there. Not that Albus especially disliked shopping, he actually found it rather fun most of the time, a far cry from James and Hugo, who faked illness whenever the mall was mentioned, but this was a little much even for him. Especially as he somehow found himself carrying all of Rebbecca's bags. Apparently this is what boyfriends did.
Other things that boyfriends did included holding mirrors for their girlfriends when they were putting on make-up, judging which color of blouse made their girlfriend look thinner, and holding their girlfriend's purse as she rifled through it for the correct change. Albus felt a little bit as though she were reading him his rights.
Still, thought Albus as he and Rebbecca sipped butterbeers and shared a box of Honeyduke's chocolate in the Three Broomsticks, all in all he'd had a rather enjoyable day.
"Oh ew," said Rebbecca, making a face at the chocolate she had just bitten into. "Raspberry."
"You don't like raspberry?" said Albus.
Rebbecca shook her head. "No. You want it?"
"Sure," said Albus, who loved raspberry.
He held out his hand for the chocolate, but instead of handing it to him, Rebbecca reached over and popped it into his open mouth.
"Oh!" said Albus in surprise, almost choking on the chocolate.
Rebbecca giggled. "You don't like it?" she asked innocently.
"Oh, no, I love it," Albus assured her. "Er—thanks."
"My mouth still tastes like it, you know," said Rebbecca, blue eyes glinting mischievously.
Albus looked at her in befuddlement for a second before what she was implying dawned on him. She wants me to kiss her, he realized, suddenly feeling panicked. I've never kissed a girl before. I've never kissed anyone before besides Scorpius. Albus took a moment to consider how pathetic that was, that he was panicking over a little kiss with Rebbecca when he and Scorpius had been screwing each other's brains out for a year and a half.
Albus licked his lips. Come on you twit, he scolded himself. It's just a kiss!
Rebbecca's eyebrows were raised questioningly.
"Does it now?" said Albus, leaning forward.
Rebbecca too leaned forward, closing the gap between their lips. She was right, her mouth did still taste like raspberry-filled chocolate, that and her bubble-gum flavored lip gloss. A strange combination. Her lips were fuller than Scorpius, and rounder, but more firm, and stickier, though that was probably just the lipgloss...
Stop comparing her to Scorpius!
The subtle movements of the girl's lips sent tingles through Albus. Damn, this girl was good at kissing.
They broke apart.
Rebbecca brushed a stray lock of hair back behind her ear. "You taste like chocolate," she teased, reaching over and wiping a smudge of Albus's lip.
"So do you," said Albus, feeling slightly giddy from the kissing in combination with all the sugar he had consumed that day. "You're one hell of a kisser."
Rebbecca gave him a half shrug. "I've had practice. You're not half bad yourself," she added with a wink.
*****LA****
Girls, Albus had discovered, were rather different than boys. Rebbecca was much more open about her feelings than Scorpius had ever been, not in a sappy, obnoxious way, but just in a not-beat-around-the-bush way. It was nice not to be constantly trying to guess what was going on in his partner's mind; if Rebbecca was thinking something, she simply came out and told him. Everyone had always told Albus that girls were complicated, but Rebbecca seemed very straightforward, at least compared to Scorpius.
You're doing it again, Albus chided himself. Albus guessed it was only natural to compare his current girlfriend to his former boyfriend, but he was trying his best not to. It wasn't working very well. Still, when Albus was with her he felt, well, happy. Not the 'head-over-heals in love' feeling he had had with Scorpius, but an "I'm having a lot of fun" kind of feeling. He had kind of been in a gloomy slump since he had dumped Scorpius, but Rebbecca had come and cut right through his gloom; it was simply impossibly to be glum around her. And the fact that their time together usually involved a large amount of chocolate and kissing didn't hurt either.
That wasn't to say that Albus was completely over Scorpius. He still felt a jolt in his gut whenever he saw the blond in class or in the halls, or heard someone casually mention his name. He still found himself biting his lip whenever anything reminded him especially of something he had shared with his ex-boyfriend. But Rose had been right when she had told him that moping around wasn't going to help. As long as Albus kept busy—with Rebbecca, with his friends, with his school work—he had little time to dwell on any lingering feelings he may or may not have had for the gray eyed Slytherin.
*****LA*****
Three weeks after he started dating Rebbecca Albus had to admit that he was really starting to fall for this vivacious, fun-loving girl.
"Al! Al! Alby!" she called, giving the door a perfunctory knock before she barged into the sixth year boys' dormitory.
"Becca!" said Albus. "I could have been undressed!"
"That's kind of what I was hoping for," said Rebbecca with a wink. She traced her fingers playfully across Albus's chest.
Albus rolled his eyes, knowing that his girlfriend was teasing.
Rebbecca planted a light kiss on Albus's mouth. "What's the deal? Why are you still up here?"
"I have a migraine," said Albus.
Rebbecca pouted. "Poor Alby." She sat him down on his bed. "Maybe you should eat something."
"I'm not hungry, Becca," said Albus.
"That may be," said Rebbecca. "But it could help your migraine."
"I doubt it," said Albus. "I just didn't sleep well is all." Not that he usually slept well, or at least he hadn't over the past couple months, which was probably why he so often woke with migraines.
"You won't know until you try," said Rebbecca.
"Alright, alright," said Albus, giving in. "Give me a minute."
Half an hour later Albus had to admit that breakfast had been a good call on Rebbecca's part, well, that and the make-out session they had had in his dormitory before they left, which had taken his mind completely off of any part of his body above his lips or below his thighs.
In fact, Rebbecca had the habit of taking his mind off of things. Like when he was trying to study for example.
"Alby, you've been working on that assignment for hours."
"Don't be ridiculous, Becca," said Albus. "It hasn't been hours. And it's a different assignment."
"Don't you think it's time to take a break?" she asked, lacing her fingers through his unruly hair.
"Not if he wants to get this done by Thursday," said Rose crossly.
"Nonsense," said Rebbecca, leaning closer, so that Albus could smell her fruity perfume. "He has ages to complete it. Besides, you're already the top of that class, aren't you Alby?."
"Well..." said Albus, faltering, "yes, I am..."
"Albus," said Rose reprovingly, shooting an annoyed look at Rebbecca. "This assignment is very important."
Rebbecca pouted.
Albus put down his quill. "I suppose taking a little break wouldn't hurt..."
*****LA*****
Rebbecca breezed easily into Albus's dormitory.
"Alby, where's that book you told me I could borrow?"
"It's right—oh, Becca, really," said Albus as Rebbecca began to rifle through his trunk. "It's not even in there..."
"Oh! Aren't these darling!" said Rebbecca holding up, much to Albus's embarrassment, a pair of tie-dye boxers for the entire dormitory to see. The rest of the boys sniggered.
"Lily made them for me at summer camp a couple years ago," he mumbled.
"Oh dear," said Rebbecca, still looking through Albus's things. "This though, this really has to go."
"I like that shirt," Albus protested.
"Tsk, the Weird Sisters? Really?" said Rebbecca. "No, no, no. Ancient history. This too," she added, holding up one of Albus's favorite sweatshirts. Out, out, out. This, however," she said, pulling out an iridescent polo shirt that Albus had gotten for Christmas from his Aunt Fleur and never wore. This is cool. We'll just slick back your hair"—she flattened his hair with her hand experimentally—"and violá!"
*****LA*****
"Albus, what are you wearing?"
"Clothes," said Albus defensively, scowling at his little sister.
"Hmph," said Lily. "Depends on your definition."
"For your information, this is the height of fashion," said Albus haughtily.
"Right..." said Lily, sounding thoroughly unconvinced.
"Oh what do you know?" snapped Albus.
"Albus, this isn't like you," said Lily. "Since when do you care about what's the 'height of fashion'?"
Albus shifted uncomfortably. "Since now, okay?"
"It's that girl," said Lily. "She's changed you."
"She has a name, Lily, it's Rebbecca, and I've changed myself, I'm growing up, that's all."
"Well I don't like it much," said Lily, and stalked off.
*****LA*****
Recently, Rebbecca had taken to becoming a lot more physical during their make-out sessions.
"Mmmm," she murmured as she rubbed herself up and down against Albus's body, pressing him further into the hard stone wall behind him. "Alby, you're delicious, you know that?" She didn't seem to expect a response, which was a good thing, because Albus wasn't at all sure if he would have been able to give her one. The wall behind him wasn't the only thing that was hard.
Rebbecca peeled herself back from him. "It's time for dinner," she said, letting her hands linger on his chest before completely righting herself and grabbing his hand, pulling him away from the stone. "We don't want to be late. I'm hungry."
I'm hungry too, thought Albus, but not for food.
*****LA*****
It was all Albus could do to keep up with his girlfriend, she was a regular whirlwind. Whether they were in Hogsmeade or on the Quidditch pitch (she was a Chaser), or making out, or simply studying in the library or hanging out in the common room, she moved at a such a pace that Albus was amazed that she didn't simply fall over from exhaustion.
She's going to give me a heart attack, he thought.
"You've got to be on top of everything," she told him as she tossed a magazine at him, "or else you'll get left in the dust. We're Mr. and Mrs. Popularity right now; we want to stay that way, right?"
"Er—right," said Albus.
"Of course," she said, a coy gleam coming into her eyes, "there's always time for a bit of fun."
She threw aside the magazine and moved so that she was straddling Albus, her hands dipping inside his shirt to caress his Quidditch-hardened muscles. She had done this countless times before, teasing him until he was nearly at his breaking point and then getting up and walking away with a spring in her step. This time, however, there was a different look in her blue eyes.
"Becca, it's the middle of the day in the dormitory, anyone could walk in—"
"I know," she purred, leaning forward and beginning to unbutton his shirt. "Isn't it exciting?"
Albus shuddered as her fingers moved to his trousers, making quick work of his belt.
"Becca—" he started, but his protests were cut off by her mouth, complete with tongue. Suddenly his worries didn't seem nearly as important.
Rebbecca slid his trousers and pants down his thighs while simultaneously wriggling out of her miniskirt and lacy panties. She threw the discarded garments carelessly on the floor and reached her hands down to stroke him into readiness. This was hardly necessary, as Albus was already just about as taught as he could get. Rebbecca moved her arms to encircle his neck and lowered herself onto his eager fullness.
It was mindblowing. Obvious Rebbecca knew what she was doing; every move she made brought Albus to a point of ecstasy formerly unknown to him. Nothing could be better than this, he was sure of it. He was hers, wholly and completely hers, and he told her so in no uncertain terms. She just smiled and accepted the sentiment, delivering bliss in a way Albus had never even known was possible. Oh Merlin, thought Albus, beyond any rational thought, Oh fucking Merlin...
*****LA*****
The next day, she dumped him.
"It was fun and all, Alby, but where else can we go, right? Time to move on, see new sights, taste new tastes, experience new sensations. No hard feelings, of course."
"But—but—" stuttered Albus. "I—we—I think I love you..."
"No, no, no" said Rebbecca, waving a hand dismissively. "That's not love, it's lust. Trust me, it gets boring if you do it too many times with the same person. Oh, and, by the way, Alby, there can only be one most popular couple in school, so watch your back." And, with a wink and a wave, she was gone.
Albus stared at the door dumbly.
Fool, fool, fool! You did it again! You let yourself get tied around someone's little finger, let yourself become so attached that it clouded your judgment. Well, not any longer, he decided, tucking his broken heart away where it wouldn't pain him. I'm not going to let her beat me that easily.
*****LA*****
"Al," said Rose, coming up to him and laying a hand on his arm. "Al, that was really rotten of her. Do you need to talk?"
Albus shook her off. "No, I'm fine. It's not a big deal, right? I've been through a break-up before. No big deal. He grinned at her, but it was forced.
"Albus, are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes, Rose, I'm fine," said Albus. "It's not like I was in love with her or anything."
*****LA*****
Unfortunately, it seemed for a while like Rebbecca was going to beat him that easily. Dating Albus Potter had given Rebbecca Matlock's popularity a hefty boost, a boost that it didn't seem to have lost now that they were no longer together. Albus had always been effortlessly popular, and he hadn't really given it much thought, but now Rebbecca was beating him at his own game and he didn't like it.
The last thing Rebbecca had said to him before she had seemed to forget about his very existence came back to him "There can only be on most popular couple in the school."
That's it, thought Albus. Most popular couple. I need a girlfriend; all of the most popular celebrities have a girlfriend, sometimes more than one.
Albus wasn't prepared to go quite that far, but he was going to find himself a girl. He wasn't about to make the mistake of actually getting attached to his girlfriend again though. He cast around the Great Hall, running his hand absently over his slicked back hair. Who was the prettiest, most popular girl in the school, besides Rebbecca of course?
His eye fell on a tall, thin, buxom, bottled blond sitting at the Ravenclaw table. Her name was Veronica Bebly and she looked like a life size barbie doll. Perfect.
Albus sauntered over to the Ravenclaw table and stood in front of Veronica Belby, resting one hand on the tabletop. The girl glanced up at him.
"Hey," he said, flashing her a smile that he had spent hours perfecting in front of the mirror, coached by James.
"Hi," said Veronica, a smile tugging at her brilliantly red lips.
"There's a Gryffindor versus Slytherin Quidditch match coming up, last match of the season, who will you be rooting for for the cup?"
"I dunno," said Veronica coyly. "Depends on who gives me the best incentive."
"What if I make you my personal cheerleader?" asked Albus. "Complete with perks, of course."
Veronica's smile widened, exposing perfect white teeth. "Gryffindor it is."
From across the Hall, a small, red-headed Gryffindor fourth-year glared daggers at her older brother before sighing sadly and exciting the room, no longer feeling hungry.
*****Song Lyrics*****
Before you know it, there she is
running up on you like a fast gin fizz
throwing away every goddamn care
Next thing you know she'll be doubling your dare
Nothing's gonna stop this little girl, from tearing up the whole great ass-kicking world
She's a dynamic, acrobatic, instamatic human tornado
She'll rip through your room, she's a human tornado
She'll cut through your gloom, she's a human tornado
She'll forecast your doom, she's a human tornado
And now she's giving you a heart attack,
and you don't know if you can pick up her slack.
You toss and turn every night and day,
she came into your dreams and now you've gotta pay
She's a never stopping, bar hopping, power-shopping human tornado
She'll turn on your lights, she's a human tornado
She'll read you your rights, she's a human tornado
She'll twist up your kites, she's a human tornado
She'll blow you around, she's a human tornado
She'll wipe off your frown, she's a human tornado
She'll never come down, she's a human tornado
She'll derail your train, she's a human tornado
She'll cure your migraine, she's a human tornado
She'll unclog your drain, she's a human tornado
She'll ransack your heart, she's a human tornado
She'll make you feel smart, she's a human tornado
She'll sell all your art, she's a human tornado
She'll forget your name, she's a human tornado
She'll win at your game, she's a human tornado
She's one righteous dame, she's a human tornado
AN: See, Al wasn't really being a git when he accepted Rebbecca; he wasn't doing it to spite Scorp. They're coping with things a little bit differently, huh? Well, they're two very different people.
Any comments are welcome, as always. Thanks :)
-SQ